EP0531176A1 - Verpackungsmaterial - Google Patents

Verpackungsmaterial Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0531176A1
EP0531176A1 EP92308091A EP92308091A EP0531176A1 EP 0531176 A1 EP0531176 A1 EP 0531176A1 EP 92308091 A EP92308091 A EP 92308091A EP 92308091 A EP92308091 A EP 92308091A EP 0531176 A1 EP0531176 A1 EP 0531176A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layers
package
layer
packaging material
apertures
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Withdrawn
Application number
EP92308091A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Ramin Ghaffari
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.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
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 Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP0531176A1 publication Critical patent/EP0531176A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/22—Details
    • B65D77/225—Pressure relief-valves incorporated in a container wall, e.g. valves comprising at least one elastic element
    • 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
    • B65D2205/00—Venting means
    • 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
    • B65D2577/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks, bags
    • B65D2577/10—Container closures formed after filling
    • B65D2577/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers
    • B65D2577/2075—Lines of weakness or apertures
    • B65D2577/2091—Lines of weakness or apertures in cover

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to packaging for food products. It is applicable in particular where the food product is intended to be heated from frozen, or is a "boil-in-the-bag" product.
  • Convenience food products are intended to be heated in a microwave oven with minimal work by the consumer prior to microwave heating.
  • such products are packed in a completely sealed package so as to prevent contamination of the food during storage. Since the intention is to provide convenience, it may be desirable that the product should be heated in a microwave without first removing the cover of the packaging.
  • heating a product in a microwave causes steam to be generated and this can cause an unacceptable rise in pressure within a fully sealed pack.
  • EP-A-160978 discloses a sealing membrane for containers whose contents develop gas during storage. Kefir, a fermented milk product, is particularly envisaged.
  • One embodiment of this membrane is a laminate of two impermeable layers. One layer is perforated. Lamination is accomplished by applying discrete spots of adhesive so as to create a criss-cross grid of channels, between the layers, leading from the perforations to the edge of the sealing membrane.
  • EP-A-205431 discloses a laminated packaging material which at one face has layers that are permeable to oxygen but not water.
  • the other, generally impermeable surface has perforations leading to spaces inside the laminate which communicate with the oxygen-permeable part of the laminate.
  • the packaging material is used for wrapping cheese.
  • the perforated surface faces the exterior with the result that the cheese remains in contact with atmospheric oxygen through the perforations and the oxygen-permeable layers of the laminate. This is stated to permit continued ripening of the wrapped cheese during storage.
  • a first aspect of this invention is a method of providing a heated food product, the method comprising
  • any build-up of pressure within the package can vent through the aperture(s) and the channel(s) at the interface between the two layers to an edge of the packaging material and hence to outside atmosphere.
  • the air and steam tight layer faces towards the exterior and preferably is at the exterior of the package. It then serves to prevent entry of contaminants.
  • the food product will generally be enclosed in the package by a manufacturer and retained in the package before and after retail sale.
  • the packaging material's two layers will, preferably, be transparent so enabling the contents of the package to be seen, for example to display the food product prior to retail sale.
  • the packaging material may well provide a cover of the package.
  • the package is sealed, except for the pathway to atmosphere via the aperture(s) and the channel(s).
  • a significant application of the invention is for the packaging of foodstuffs intended to be heated in a microwave oven without first opening the package.
  • the layers in the packaging material should be microwave-transparent
  • a further application is for boil-in-the-bag food products and for this application the channels at the interface of the two layers should be such that capillary action opposes water entry whilst still allowing steam to vent to the exterior. This may be achieved by choice of the materials of the two layers so that the channels at the interface are hydrophobic and by choice of the dimensions of the channels.
  • the ability of the package to vent from its interior can also be utilized during vacuum packaging when it is desired to extract air from the package and so drag the film down onto the contents of the pack.
  • the invention provides a packaging material suitable to provide at least part of a package for a food product which material comprises at least two layers laminated together, one layer being air and steam tight while the second layer is provided with one or more apertures, the two layers being laminated together with at least one channel extending from the aperture(s) along the interface between the two layers.
  • the channels may be uniformly spaced apart but this is not essential.
  • Each of the two layers may consist of a single material or may be a laminate of more than one material.
  • Transparent layers will be formed from thermoplastic material(s) but one or both layers may be opaque. Although it is not a preferred option it is possible that one layer may comprise an opaque metal foil. The latter could be employed for the gas tight outer layer, for instance, when the product was intended to be boiled in the bag.
  • the apertures in the inner layer may be distributed over the entire area of the inner layer or may be in selected portions of it only. Conveniently the width across individual apertures may lie in a range from 0.1 mm to 5 mm. If the apertures are not circular then the smallest dimension across them may be not less than 0.1 mm and the maximum dimension across them may be not greater than 5 mm. However, apertures with dimensions outside this preferred range are possible within the scope of the invention.
  • Provision of channels at the interface between the two layers may be accomplished by providing an adhesive layer at the interface and interrupting the adhesive material along the line of each intended channel. Another possibility is for the two layers to be pressed together while hot without applying pressure along the line of each intended channel.
  • a layer 10, intended to be the outer layer of packaging material is a continuous web.
  • this web is formed from nylon (polyamide) which is microwave-transparent.
  • a second web 12 is a continuous web of polypropylene formed with a row of circular holes 14 each 1 mm in diameter. This web 12 is formed of polypropylene which is also microwave-transparent.
  • the two layers 10,12 are laminated together with an adhesive layer 16 between them.
  • a two component polyurethane based adhesive would be appropriate for this.
  • Laminating two webs together with adhesive between them is common practice in the manufacture of packaging materials.
  • the adhesive material is omitted from a strip 18 positioned to overlie the row of holes 14 in the bottom web 12. This strip where the adhesive was omitted thus provides a continuous channel 18 at the interface between the two webs. In this embodiment the row of holes 14 and the channel 18 run in the direction of the web.
  • a portion of the web is used to provide the cover of a pack having a base 20 and containing a food product 21.
  • the apertures 14 through the inner layer 12 open into the interior of the pack and the channel 18 extends from the apertures to the edge of the cover.
  • the cover is heat sealed to a rim of the base 20 of the pack, as indicated at 22.
  • Fig. 5 is a view onto a portion of this heat sealed rim. As shown the heat sealing joins the lower layer 12 to the base 20 but does not unite the layers 10 and 12, so the channel 18 opens to atmosphere at this rim of the pack. Thus pressure within the pack can vent to the exterior. The length of the channel 18, however, prevents particulate contaminants from entering the interior of the pack.
  • FIG. 8 A further possibility illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is to have apertures distributed over the whole area of web 12, and one or more channels 18 which communicate with some of the apertures 14 leaving others as blind cavities (indicated 14′ in Fig. 8).
  • Fig. 10 is a cross section which illustrates an alternative method of making channels.
  • the two webs 10,12 are formed from nylon and polypropylene as before with a row of apertures 14 in the polypropylene web 12, also as in Figs. 1 to 3.
  • the holes 14 were punched in the web 12 almost immediately after it was extruded.
  • the nylon web was extruded at the same time as the polypropylene web and the two webs were brought together while still hot from the extrusion process, but after punching the holes 14.
  • the pair of webs were passed between rollers applying pressure so as to unite the hot webs into a single laminate.
  • the rollers were shaped so as not to apply pressure to a strip coinciding with the row of apertures 14. Consequently the two webs are not united together along this strip and excess pressure from the interior of a pack can force its way along the resulting channel 18 where the two layers are not united together.
  • Materials and heat sealing temperatures should therefore be chosen so that the heat seal between the web 12 and the base 20 of the pack can be, and is, formed at a temperature below that required to fuse the webs 10,12.
  • the dimensions of the channels 18 may be kept small, to promote this capillary action. Suitable dimensions may be investigated by trial experiments. It is also possible to calculate capillary effects, as explained for instance in "An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics" by K.K. Batchelor. It is necessary to know the contact angle. The angle of contact between water and a thermoplastic can be measured from a photograph of a water droplet resting on a sheet of the thermoplastic held edge-on to the camera.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Cosmetics (AREA)
  • Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
EP92308091A 1991-09-06 1992-09-07 Verpackungsmaterial Withdrawn EP0531176A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP91308175 1991-09-06
EP91308175 1991-09-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0531176A1 true EP0531176A1 (de) 1993-03-10

Family

ID=8208393

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92308091A Withdrawn EP0531176A1 (de) 1991-09-06 1992-09-07 Verpackungsmaterial

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0531176A1 (de)
CA (1) CA2077698A1 (de)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0630828A1 (de) * 1993-06-21 1994-12-28 Unilever N.V. Verpackte, frittierbare Nahrungsmittel
EP0661219A2 (de) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Packs Co. Ltd. Vorrichtung zum Umhüllen
EP0915013A1 (de) 1997-11-07 1999-05-12 Brodart S.A. Verfahren zum Deckelverschliessen von Behältern, Deckelfolie zum Durchführen dieses Verfahrens und so hergestelltes Produkt
GB2337033A (en) * 1998-05-08 1999-11-10 Nestle Sa Pouch containing food to be cooked while therein
CN1083795C (zh) * 1997-11-10 2002-05-01 株式会社美华巴克士 具有压力自动调整功能的包装用袋及其制造方法
NL1016978C2 (nl) * 2000-12-22 2002-06-25 Robert Jan Colenbrander Inrichting en werkwijze voor het verpakken en bereiden van voedsel en werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van een dergelijke inrichting.
EP1674407A1 (de) * 2004-12-22 2006-06-28 Nestec S.A. Nahrungsmittelbehälter und Verfahren zur Heizung
EP2050691A1 (de) * 2007-10-17 2009-04-22 Alcan Packaging Food France Verpackungsbehälter, Verpackungsmaterial, das aus dem Deckel dieses Behälters besteht, und Herstellungsverfahren dieses Verpackungsmaterials
US8748786B2 (en) 2009-11-19 2014-06-10 Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc Multi-component food packaging for microwave oven
ITUA20162337A1 (it) * 2016-04-06 2017-10-06 Masterpack S P A Foglio per involucri, involucro comprendente questo foglio, nonché macchina e metodo per la loro fabbricazione

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0025431A2 (de) * 1979-09-07 1981-03-18 Teich Aktiengesellschaft Verpackungsmaterial zum Herstellen von Einschlagverpackungen
DE3142762A1 (de) * 1981-10-28 1983-05-11 Pfanni-Werk, Otto Eckart KG, 8000 München Verpackungshuelle fuer schneidfeste fertiggerichte vom typ knoedel und kloesse
EP0160978A2 (de) * 1984-05-07 1985-11-13 Nyffeler, Corti AG Verschlussmembran für Behälter mit gas-entwickelndem Füllgut
EP0198362A2 (de) * 1985-04-13 1986-10-22 Gourmec Laboratory Co., Ltd. Behälter und Verfahren zum Kochen in einem Mikrowellenofen
DE3801122A1 (de) * 1988-01-16 1989-07-27 Unilever Nv Menueschale od. dgl. behaeltnis
US4866786A (en) * 1988-04-18 1989-09-12 Sentinel Bag & Paper Company, Inc. Ovenable bag

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0025431A2 (de) * 1979-09-07 1981-03-18 Teich Aktiengesellschaft Verpackungsmaterial zum Herstellen von Einschlagverpackungen
DE3142762A1 (de) * 1981-10-28 1983-05-11 Pfanni-Werk, Otto Eckart KG, 8000 München Verpackungshuelle fuer schneidfeste fertiggerichte vom typ knoedel und kloesse
EP0160978A2 (de) * 1984-05-07 1985-11-13 Nyffeler, Corti AG Verschlussmembran für Behälter mit gas-entwickelndem Füllgut
EP0198362A2 (de) * 1985-04-13 1986-10-22 Gourmec Laboratory Co., Ltd. Behälter und Verfahren zum Kochen in einem Mikrowellenofen
DE3801122A1 (de) * 1988-01-16 1989-07-27 Unilever Nv Menueschale od. dgl. behaeltnis
US4866786A (en) * 1988-04-18 1989-09-12 Sentinel Bag & Paper Company, Inc. Ovenable bag

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0630828A1 (de) * 1993-06-21 1994-12-28 Unilever N.V. Verpackte, frittierbare Nahrungsmittel
EP0661219A2 (de) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Packs Co. Ltd. Vorrichtung zum Umhüllen
EP0661219A3 (de) * 1993-12-28 1995-09-06 Packs Co Ltd Vorrichtung zum Umhüllen.
US5655842A (en) * 1993-12-28 1997-08-12 Packs Co., Ltd. Wrapping device
US5839832A (en) * 1993-12-28 1998-11-24 Packs Co. Ltd. Wrapping device
EP0915013A1 (de) 1997-11-07 1999-05-12 Brodart S.A. Verfahren zum Deckelverschliessen von Behältern, Deckelfolie zum Durchführen dieses Verfahrens und so hergestelltes Produkt
CN1083795C (zh) * 1997-11-10 2002-05-01 株式会社美华巴克士 具有压力自动调整功能的包装用袋及其制造方法
EP0955246A2 (de) * 1998-05-08 1999-11-10 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. Speise im Beutel
EP0955246A3 (de) * 1998-05-08 2000-04-19 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. Speise im Beutel
US6183789B1 (en) 1998-05-08 2001-02-06 Nestec S.A. Pouch meal and method of preparing same
GB2337033A (en) * 1998-05-08 1999-11-10 Nestle Sa Pouch containing food to be cooked while therein
NL1016978C2 (nl) * 2000-12-22 2002-06-25 Robert Jan Colenbrander Inrichting en werkwijze voor het verpakken en bereiden van voedsel en werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van een dergelijke inrichting.
WO2002051716A1 (en) * 2000-12-22 2002-07-04 Robert Jan Colenbrander Heatable food package with venting means
EP1674407A1 (de) * 2004-12-22 2006-06-28 Nestec S.A. Nahrungsmittelbehälter und Verfahren zur Heizung
WO2006066729A1 (fr) * 2004-12-22 2006-06-29 Nestec S.A. Ensemble pour produit alimentaire et procede de chauffage pour ledit ensemble
AU2005318579B2 (en) * 2004-12-22 2012-05-24 Nestec S.A. Assembly for food product and method for heating said assembly
EP2050691A1 (de) * 2007-10-17 2009-04-22 Alcan Packaging Food France Verpackungsbehälter, Verpackungsmaterial, das aus dem Deckel dieses Behälters besteht, und Herstellungsverfahren dieses Verpackungsmaterials
FR2922531A1 (fr) * 2007-10-17 2009-04-24 Alcan Packaging Food France Barquette d'emballage,materiau d'emballage constitue par l'opercule de cette barquette et procede de fabrication dudit materiau d'emballage
US8748786B2 (en) 2009-11-19 2014-06-10 Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc Multi-component food packaging for microwave oven
US9737085B2 (en) 2009-11-19 2017-08-22 Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc Multi-component food packaging for microwave oven
ITUA20162337A1 (it) * 2016-04-06 2017-10-06 Masterpack S P A Foglio per involucri, involucro comprendente questo foglio, nonché macchina e metodo per la loro fabbricazione

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2077698A1 (en) 1993-03-07

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