EP0299643A1 - Emballage - Google Patents
Emballage Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0299643A1 EP0299643A1 EP88305885A EP88305885A EP0299643A1 EP 0299643 A1 EP0299643 A1 EP 0299643A1 EP 88305885 A EP88305885 A EP 88305885A EP 88305885 A EP88305885 A EP 88305885A EP 0299643 A1 EP0299643 A1 EP 0299643A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- container
- heat
- product
- bag portion
- package
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 14
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 68
- 235000002017 Zea mays subsp mays Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 241000482268 Zea mays subsp. mays Species 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 claims description 28
- 240000008042 Zea mays Species 0.000 claims description 16
- 235000005824 Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Nutrition 0.000 claims description 13
- 235000013339 cereals Nutrition 0.000 claims description 13
- 235000005822 corn Nutrition 0.000 claims description 13
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000002657 fibrous material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920001707 polybutylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000016383 Zea mays subsp huehuetenangensis Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009470 controlled atmosphere packaging Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000009973 maize Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003000 extruded plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 16
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 14
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 10
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 8
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 8
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 description 8
- 229920001328 Polyvinylidene chloride Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000005033 polyvinylidene chloride Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910000278 bentonite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000440 bentonite Substances 0.000 description 2
- SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N bentoquatam Chemical compound O.O=[Si]=O.O=[Al]O[Al]=O SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000004320 controlled atmosphere Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003182 Surlyn® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011111 cardboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000009508 confectionery Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920000554 ionomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002923 metal particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011104 metalized film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001748 polybutylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009461 vacuum packaging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000859 α-Fe Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS 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
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package
- B65D81/3446—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
- B65D81/3453—Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B29/00—Packaging of materials presenting special problems
- B65B29/08—Packaging of edible materials intended to be cooked in the package
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
- B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
- B65B9/045—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material for single articles, e.g. tablets
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS 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
- B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
- B65D2581/3401—Cooking or heating method specially adapted to the contents of the package
- B65D2581/3402—Cooking or heating method specially adapted to the contents of the package characterised by the type of product to be heated or cooked
- B65D2581/3421—Cooking pop-corn
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS 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
- B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
- B65D2581/3437—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
- B65D2581/3471—Microwave reactive substances present in the packaging material
- B65D2581/3472—Aluminium or compounds thereof
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS 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
- B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
- B65D2581/3437—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
- B65D2581/3486—Dielectric characteristics of microwave reactive packaging
- B65D2581/3494—Microwave susceptor
Definitions
- This invention relates to packaging and is concerned with a method of packaging a heat transformation product, that is to say a product which changes in shape, size, texture or other physical attribute on heating.
- Preferred heat transformation products are those food products which change in shape, size, texture and colour or release flavour on heating.
- a prime example of a food transformation product is grains of corn (maize) which upon heating, produce "popcorn" while another is poppadoms.
- the present invention will be described mainly with reference to grains of corn although it is applicable to other heat transformation products. For ease of reference, such grains of corn, whether in the "popped” or “unpopped” condition will hereinafter be referred to as "popcorn".
- the invention also relates to packages produced by the method.
- a method of packaging a food transformation product comprising the steps of forming a bag portion from a film of heat-extensible plastics material bringing the mouth of said bag portion into contact with the mouth of a rigid container having untransformed food product therein, collapsing said bag portion by drawing a vacuum between the interiors of said container and said bag portion or by external pressure thereon to cause the bag portion substantially to follow the interior contour of the container and food product therein and sealing the mouth of said bag portion to the mouth of said container.
- the method is preferably carried out continuously and use may be made of a conventional thermoforming vacuum packaging machine.
- the method is carried out by forming the bag portion, as by deep-drawing the film of heat extensible plastics material, and then placing over the mouth of the bag portion an inverted rigid container which has the untransformed food product adhered, as by an edible adhesive, such as sugary or toffee-like mixture, to what would normally be the base of the container. After the bag portion has been invaginated into the rigid container the container can be turned up the normal way.
- the bag portion is formed and then allowed to collapse or forced by pressure or vacuum into a collapsed state in which it is placed over the mouth of the rigid container in which the untransformed food product can be held in a loose condition.
- the bag portion when the resulting package is stood on its base and heated in an oven/hot plate or microwave oven, the bag portion will stretch and form a dome under the influence of the heat and will contain the food product, e.g. popcorn, as it increases in volume during heating the lined fibre tray and the bag portion being capable of extensive expansion to relieve any excess pressure.
- the seal between the bag portion and the container may be a broken or intermittent seal to allow the escape of air and/or moisture during heating.
- a preferred safety release is the inclusion of a strip of paper at one or more points in the seal.
- the plastics material of which the bag portion of the package is made is a heat-extensible material which is heat-resistant in that it can withstand the temperatures in an oven or microwave oven at which the food product undergoes transformation.
- the plastics material should have low dielectric loss properties.
- Suitable plastics materials for the bag portion include cast polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonates, and polypropylene, but other suitable materials may be employed.
- the plastics material may have a thickness of 25 to 200 microns, but preferably has a thickness of 25 to 100 microns.
- the container is preferably in the form of a flanged tray or dish which may be round or substantially rectangular in plan view. It is most desirable that the tray is substantially square in plan view although other constraints may favour a somewhat oblong plan view. It is desirable for the container to have a depth at least one third of the diagonal/width or diameter in order to achieve optimum results.
- the container is preferably made of fibrous material, such as moulded fibre pulp, paper, cardboard or fibre board made in conventional manner by moulding fibres deposited by paper-making techniques. Alternatively, the container may be made from bonded wood chips or bonded fibre material provided that the bonding material can withstand subsequent heating. All these containers are lined with a lining of heat-resistant plastics material which is compatible with the material of which the bag portion is made and which can be sealed to the bag portion by processes such as heat-sealing, thermal bonding or even by adhesive means.
- the container may also be made of plastics material provided that the material can withstand the subsequent heating and can be sealed to the bag portion.
- the container should be provided with susceptor material to enhance the heating effect of the microwave radiation.
- the susceptor material of which ferrites, metal particles. e.g. aluminium particles, and various argillaceous materials, e.g. bentonite, are examples, may be incorporated in the container in various ways.
- a pad of susceptor material may be incorporated between the interior of the base of a container made of fibrous material and the heat-resistant plastics lining of the container or a pad of susceptor material may be present externally.
- the container may be sprayed or otherwise treated with susceptor material, either internally before lining, or externally.
- the container may have a metalised film thereon of e.g. aluminium particles at an optical density of 0.18 to 0.3.
- the pulp from which the container is made will normally contain clays, such as bentonite, or other fillers which may then become incorporated in the pulp from which the container is moulded in sufficient quantities to act as susceptor materials in conjunction with the inherent moisture content of the normal moulded fibre containers available in commerce, which moisture content is usually 10% but may range from 5 to 15%, so that there is no need for the addition of further susceptor material, as the package will perform satisfactorily as a result of its self-suscepting properties.
- the container is made of plastics
- the plastics may contain susceptor material as a filler.
- the susceptibility of the package or the container can be selected both in degree and position in accordance with the requirements of the transformation product.
- the first embodiment of the present method is particularly useful for packaging popcorn which is present in a sweet form, since in this case the individual grains are covered with a sugary or toffee-like mixture.
- Such a sugary or toffee-like mixture provides a convenient adhesive for holding the popcorn to the base of the container when the latter is inverted over the deep drawn bag portion.
- suitable edible materials may be used in an adhesive capacity if appropriate.
- a package of a food transformation product comprising a container having untransformed product therein and a bag portion of heat extensible plastics material lying within the container and substantially following the interior contour of the container and food product therein, the bag portion being sealed to the mouth of the container, preferably by a broken or intermittent seal.
- a tear-strip or opening strip may be incorporated in the side of the package.
- the tear strip may comprise a strip of material which is different from the material of which the lining of the container or of the container itself is made and which is also different from the material of which the bag portion is made, but which can be adhered as by heat-sealing, adhesively or otherwise both to the container or its linining and the bag.
- a suitable material for such a tear-strip is that sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Melinex" 850, which is a co-extruded plastics film comprising a layer of polyester and a layer of a heat-seal material which is present at a rate of 4 to 5g/m2; the tear-strip is conveniently about 30 microns thick.
- the package of food transformation product is to be stored then it is desirable to place the package in an outer or secondary package as it is possible to provide a desired and controlled atmosphere within such a secondary package thereby prolonging the shelf life of the food transformation product as the secondary package can be made with a very low gas and moisture vapour transmission rate.
- the primary package containing the food product can be placed in a thermo-formed outer container and covered with a lidding material which is sealed to the outer container in a controlled atmosphere packaging machine by means of so-called easy peel seal, that is to say a seal in which two compatible polymer materials are united by heat, but one of the polymers contains a differentially soluble polymer additive which settles out on cooling to form a line of weakness along which the polymers can be separated.
- the primary package of food transformation product can be flow wrapped in conventional manner.
- a film 1 of polybutylene terephthalate 100 microns thick is unwound from a reel 2 and fed to a deep-drawing station 3 in which the film is deep-drawn in conventional manner make a forming 4 which for convenience will be referred to as a bag.
- Moulded fibre trays 5, lined with a film of polyethylene terephthalate 36 microns thick and containing unpopped popcorn 6 adhered to the bases thereof by a toffee-like mixture, are fed along a conveyor 7 to a loading wheel 8.
- the loading wheel has a number of arms 9 each fitted with holding means 10 to hold a tray 5 firmly in position, either by means of grippers (not shown) or by suction.
- the loading wheel 8 is mounted above the film 1 and positioned so as to place the mouth of a tray 5 over the mouth of a bag 4, the peripheries of the mouths of the tray and bag being of the same shape. As the popcorn is adhered to the tray 5 by the toffee-like mixture, the popcorn does not fall into the bag.
- the bag 4 and inverted tray 5 are then are passed to a conventional vacuum/gas packaging machine 11 connected via a pipe 12 to a source of vacuum, where a vacuum is drawn between the bag 4 and the inverted tray 5 so that, as shown, the bag 4 is drawn into the tray 5 so as to lie closely adjacent the popcorn and substantially follow the interior contour of the container. Alternatively, the bag could merely occupy the head space of the tray in a collapsed state.
- the resulting package is then passed to a heat-sealing and cutting station 14 where the mouth of the bag 4 is heat-sealed to the lining at the mouth of the tray 5 and the package is severed from the surrounding film 1.
- the seal between the bag and the tray lining may be a broken or intermittent seal for a reason to be explained hereinafter.
- the sealed packages 15 are then removed by a conveyor 16.
- FIG. 2 there is shown another plant for packaging a food transformation product which is not adhered to the base of a container.
- preformed containers in the form of deep flanged trays or tubs 20 of moulded fibre material are taken from a stock 21 of trays by destacking apparatus indicated by arrow 22 and placed in rows across a conveyor 23 so as to form a closely spaced array of trays on the conveyor.
- the trays 20 are fed beneath a loading device 24 which deposits a disc 25 of susceptor material at the bottom of each tray.
- the trays 20 are then fed to a thermoforming station 26.
- a reel 27 of polyethylene terephthalate film 28 which has a thickness of 36 microns is mounted above the conveyor 23 and the film is united with the trays 20 at the thermoforming station and serves to hold the discs 25 of susceptor material in the trays.
- the film is coherently bonded to the trays and discs by being heated by a heater 29 and by being drawn downwardly by a vacuum applied at a vacuum outlet 30.
- a tear strip 64 (c.f. Figure 4) is added.
- a strip of "Melinex" 850 is fed to each tray in a direction transverse to the conveyor so as to lie over the flange of the tray and is heat-sealed to the lining of the tray inside the tray and at the flange by means of a heated wheel or block (not shown).
- the trays After leaving the tear-strip station 31, the trays pass to a loading station 32 where the food transformation product 33, e.g. grains of corn, is placed in the tray. The trays then pass to an invaginating station 34.
- the food transformation product 33 e.g. grains of corn
- a reel 35 of a film 36 of polybutylene terephthalate 100 microns thick is mounted above the conveyor 23 and above another thermoforming station 37 at which the film 36 is thermoformed into a forming or bag portion 38 using a heater 39 and a vacuum applied at a vacuum outlet 40.
- the bag portion 38 is shown as being of substantially the same shape as a tray 20 but it may be of any convenient shape bearing in mind its eventual purpose to hold the transformed food product.
- the bag 38 in a collapsed condition is then brought into contact with a tray with the mouths of the bag 38 and tray 20 in register with one another and the tray and bag are passed to the invaginating station 34 where by means of compressed air introduced through an inlet 41 the bag 38 is invaginated so that the bag substantially follows the interior contour of the tray and the grains of corn 33 in the tray.
- the tray 20 with the invaginated bag then passes to a vacuum sealing station 42 where a vacuum is applied via a vacuum outlet 43 to the space between the interior of the tray and the bag so that the bag is now forced closely to follow the interior contour of the tray and the grains of corn.
- the mouth of the bag is heat-sealed to the lining of the tray at the flange thereof.
- the seal is preferably an intermittent seal as indicated above.
- the filled and sealed packages are separated by a knife or cutting means 44 into individual packages 45 which are either passed for sale or are passed for packaging in the plant shown in Figure 3 in which the packages 45 are packaged in secondary or outer containers.
- the necessity for packaging the packages 45 in outer containers may arise not merely for presentation but in order to extend the shelf-life of the food transformation product by packing it in a desired or controlled atmosphere.
- a film 50 of thermoplastic material comprising a layer of polyvinylidene chloride sandwiched between two layers of ionomeric polymer such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark "SURLYN" and having a total thickness of 125 microns is unwound from a reel 51 and passed to a thermoforming station 52 where the film is thermoformed to produce an outer container 53 shaped to receive a package 45 leaving the plant shown in Figure 2 or a package 15 leaving the plant shown in Figure 1.
- the outer container 53 then passes to a loading station in which a package 45 (or 15) is placed in the container 53.
- a lidding material 54 comprising a film of thermoplastic material comprising a layer of polyvinylidene chloride sandwiched between a layer of ionomeric polymer and a layer of polyethylene terephthalate and having a total thickness of 60 microns is unwound from a reel 55 and is brought to cover the container 53 with the ionomer layer of the lidding material in contact with a flange of the outer container.
- the lidding material is then united with the flange of the container 53 in a vacuum/gas flush controlled atmosphere packaging machine 56 of conventional kind in which the space between the lidding material 54 and the interior of the container 53 is filled with carbon dioxide or nitrogen and the lidding material is heat-sealed to the flange of the container.
- the containers are separated by cutting means 57 to provide the finished package 58.
- FIG. 4 there is shown a cross-section through the package 58 showing the outer container 53 sealed by a lid 60 around a flange 61 of the container 53.
- the container 53 is formed with an internal shoulder 62 on which rests the outer flange of the tray 20 with its lining 63 secured to the wall of the tray and holding the disc 25 of susceptor material in place.
- the grains of corn 33 are closely covered by the invaginated bag 38 which is sealed to the mouth of the tray.
- a tear strip 64 is shown lying between the bag 38 and the tray lining 63.
- Figure 5 shows an alternative wrapping in which the package 45 or 15 has been flow-wrapped in an envelope of material similar to the lidding material 54 using a convential flow-wrapping machine.
- the lid 60 When the package shown in Figure 4 is to be used, the lid 60 is removed and to this end a tear strip similar to the tear strip 64 may be present at the edge or across the lid.
- the package 45 is then removed from the container 53 and placed in a microwave oven and heated in accordance with instructions present on the lid, on the package 45 or on the container 53. Heat generated causes the grains of corn to "pop" to produce popcorn and causes the bag 38 to be pushed out of the tray firstly to the position indicated at 65 in Figure 6 but due to the heat generated, the expansion of the atmosphere within the tray and the fact that the bag is made of heat-extensible plastics, the bag eventually takes up the position shown at 66.
- the thickness of the bag material, the shape to which the bag is thermoformed and the amount of food transformation product are chosen so that when the bag takes up the position shown at 66, the transformed product is contained wholly within the bag without any risk that the bag might burst.
- the outer package 53 and the lidding material 54 would be made of different polymers such as a nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, polythene composite or a polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polythene composite for the outer package and a polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, polythene composite for the lidding material.
- a differentially soluble polymer additive such as polybutylene is incorporated in the lidding material.
- the polymer additive After heat sealing the lidding material to the flange 61 of the outer package 53, the polymer additive, which has become incorporated in the lidding material during the melting of the latter, settles out on cooling as a line of weakness permitting easy opening of the outer package. This can be assisted by the provision of a tab of the lidding material, if desired.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB878715532A GB8715532D0 (en) | 1987-07-02 | 1987-07-02 | Packaging |
GB8715532 | 1987-07-02 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0299643A1 true EP0299643A1 (fr) | 1989-01-18 |
Family
ID=10619942
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP88305885A Withdrawn EP0299643A1 (fr) | 1987-07-02 | 1988-06-29 | Emballage |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0299643A1 (fr) |
GB (1) | GB8715532D0 (fr) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0323128A2 (fr) * | 1987-12-28 | 1989-07-05 | Polyplastics Co. Ltd. | Sac pour l'emballage de nourriture ayant une excellente rétention d'arôme |
EP0363102A2 (fr) * | 1988-10-05 | 1990-04-11 | Polyplastics Co. Ltd. | Sac en résine de téréphtalate de polybutylène |
WO2001019683A1 (fr) * | 1999-09-10 | 2001-03-22 | Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. | Procede de production d'un conteneur hermetique destine aux produits cuits au four ou aux produits similaires |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3519439A (en) * | 1966-10-03 | 1970-07-07 | Dun Hot Inc | Popcorn package |
FR2392889A1 (fr) * | 1977-05-31 | 1978-12-29 | Henkel Kgaa | Systeme de fermeture de tonneau pour matiere en vrac |
-
1987
- 1987-07-02 GB GB878715532A patent/GB8715532D0/en active Pending
-
1988
- 1988-06-29 EP EP88305885A patent/EP0299643A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3519439A (en) * | 1966-10-03 | 1970-07-07 | Dun Hot Inc | Popcorn package |
FR2392889A1 (fr) * | 1977-05-31 | 1978-12-29 | Henkel Kgaa | Systeme de fermeture de tonneau pour matiere en vrac |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0323128A2 (fr) * | 1987-12-28 | 1989-07-05 | Polyplastics Co. Ltd. | Sac pour l'emballage de nourriture ayant une excellente rétention d'arôme |
EP0323128A3 (fr) * | 1987-12-28 | 1991-01-16 | Polyplastics Co. Ltd. | Sac pour l'emballage de nourriture ayant une excellente rétention d'arôme |
EP0363102A2 (fr) * | 1988-10-05 | 1990-04-11 | Polyplastics Co. Ltd. | Sac en résine de téréphtalate de polybutylène |
EP0363102A3 (fr) * | 1988-10-05 | 1991-01-02 | Polyplastics Co. Ltd. | Sac en résine de téréphtalate de polybutylène |
WO2001019683A1 (fr) * | 1999-09-10 | 2001-03-22 | Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. | Procede de production d'un conteneur hermetique destine aux produits cuits au four ou aux produits similaires |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8715532D0 (en) | 1987-08-12 |
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