EP0748746A1 - Emballage thermoplastique à ouverture facile - Google Patents

Emballage thermoplastique à ouverture facile Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0748746A1
EP0748746A1 EP96109304A EP96109304A EP0748746A1 EP 0748746 A1 EP0748746 A1 EP 0748746A1 EP 96109304 A EP96109304 A EP 96109304A EP 96109304 A EP96109304 A EP 96109304A EP 0748746 A1 EP0748746 A1 EP 0748746A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
web
package
easy
opening
recess
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Withdrawn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
EP96109304A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Bernard Chappuis
Joerg Staempli
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.)
Cryovac LLC
Original Assignee
GRACE AG
WR Grace and 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 GRACE AG, WR Grace and Co Conn filed Critical GRACE AG
Priority to EP96109304A priority Critical patent/EP0748746A1/fr
Publication of EP0748746A1 publication Critical patent/EP0748746A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/10—Container closures formed after filling
    • B65D77/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
    • B65D77/2024—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers the cover being welded or adhered to the container
    • B65D77/2028—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab
    • B65D77/2032—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab by peeling or tearing the cover from the container
    • 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
    • B65D2577/2066—Means on, or attached to, container flange facilitating opening, e.g. non-bonding region, cut-out

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an easy to open package wherein an article, typically a food product, is enclosed between two webs of thermoplastic material, the package is tightly sealed so as to protect the product packaged therein from abuse and exterior contamination during storage, shipment and display and yet it can be easily opened manually by the end consumer without resorting to knives, scissors or other implements.
  • thermoforming method the vacuum skin packaging method and other methods which can be generally considered as modifications of the above two general methods.
  • the lower, supporting, web has preferably a tray-like configuration defining a receptacle for the article to be packaged having an opening and a rim formed on the periphery of said opening.
  • Said tray-like configuration is generally obtained by a thermoforming step, either in-line or off-line.
  • the upper web is then disposed over the receptacle containing the article to be packaged, the chamber containing the lower and upper webs is vacuumized and the upper web is sealed to the peripheral rim of the lower thermoformed web by means of a heat sealing platen, usually in the form of a sealing frame. If a modified atmosphere package is desired, the suitably selected gas mixture is injected into the chamber between vacuumizing and sealing.
  • the upper web In the vacuum skin packaging process the upper web is generally drawn into a concave mold cavity formed into a vertically movable heated molding platen so that it is heated while held by suction in contact with the heated ceiling and walls of the cavity. Then the vacuumization of the vacuum packaging chamber and the release of the suction applied to the cavity walls of the mold plate draws the upper web downwardly to contact with the contours of the product article and with the lower web.
  • the upper web thus forms a tight skin all around the product and is bonded to the lower web by differential air pressure, thus sealing wherever the two webs contact each other.
  • a heat sealing frame may be used to further seal the upper web to the peripheral rim of the lower web.
  • the term "easy to open package” is intended to refer to a package, and specifically heat sealed and bonded areas of a package, which, owing to the suitable selection of the composition of the upper and lower webs, and particularly that of the sealing layers and of the layers adjacent thereto, are readily openable without totally tearing or rupturing the packaging materials.
  • the opening of said packages still needs to be facilitated by a convenient means for pulling apart the package, i.e. a start for the end user to separate the two thermoplastic sheets one from another.
  • GB-B-1,360,808 discloses a package formed of superposed sealed webs of thermoplastic material with a corner of the package rendered easily openable by virtue of a paper insert between the webs in order to prevent localized sealing.
  • GB-B-1,510,115 also discloses a package formed of superposed sealed webs of thermoplastic material in which a corner is rendered easily openable by virtue of a patch of ink that should prevent the two webs from bonding to one another.
  • CA-B-1,164,260 describes a package wherein a corner of the lower web is bent downwardly by a punching device leaving the upper web without surface to adhere to at the sealing step.
  • Vacuum skin packaging machines are commercially available that provide for a pre-cut of a corner of the lower web which is then adhered to the upper web. To start opening the package, the pre-cut corner must first be detached from the rest of the lower web by bending it upwardly or/and downwardly along the precut.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an easy to open package provided with means for pulling apart the package with enhanced properties of presentation and outward appeal of the packaged product.
  • the present invention provides as a first object thereof an easy to open package wherein an article is enclosed between a lower thermoplastic web having an opening and a rim formed on the periphery of said opening and an upper thermoplastic web superposed thereto that is sealed to the lower web at said peripheral rim, said package being characterized in that the lower thermoplastic web has at least one recess at a marginal zone of the peripheral rim providing in the upper web for an area of non-adhesion that can be gripped with the fingers to initiate opening of the package.
  • said easy to open package is obtained by vacuum skin packaging.
  • the present invention relates to a method for producing an easy to open package provided with means for pulling apart the package according to the invention, comprising providing an easy to open package closable by adhering superposed lower and upper webs at a seal region, forming a recess in the lower web at a marginal zone in the seal region and sealing together said lower and upper webs at the seal region thereby providing for an area of non-adhesion in the upper web that can be gripped with the fingers to initiate opening of the package.
  • the lower web has a substantially tray-like configuration with an opening (1), with a bottom (2) whence walls (3) extend typically diverging on the opposite side to the bottom, and a peripheral rim (4) all around the opening.
  • the bottom may have an undulated surface which defines a plurality of canalizations or micro-channels intersecting one another to facilitate the extraction of air during the sealing operation; additional canalizations are defined by grooves (5), extending substantially parallel to one another toward the bottom such as to communicate to said micro-channels, again to facilitate the extraction of air.
  • a recess (6) is formed in the lower web.
  • Said area of non-adhesion (8) can be easily gripped with the fingers and torn apart.
  • the identification of the point where to start the opening is immediate and no arrows or other signs need to be printed or fastened on the web to properly address the end user.
  • the dimension of the recess and therefore of the area of non-adhesion in the upper web can be varied depending on the dimensions of the package and of the peripheral rim, provided however that it is sufficient to allow for an easy gripping by an ordinary hand.
  • packages from about 8 to about 20 cm in width and from about 15 to about 30 cm in length are manufactured with a rim width of from about 1 to about 3 cm.
  • a radius of at least about 0.7 cm, preferably at least about 0.8, and more preferably at least about 0.9 cm up to about 2.5 cm or even more depending on the rim width would be suitable.
  • the shape of the recess is not critical provided that gripping of the non-adhesion area in the upper web can be easily achieved. Therefore round or oval shaped recesses are preferred as they better conform to the finger tips.
  • the recess is preferably centered on the tray side in order to better balance the opening force applied and achieve a more uniform tearing apart of the upper web. However this is not strictly necessary and the recess may also be unsymmetrically positioned on the lower web side.
  • thermoforming of the lower web is carried out in-line by any suitable technique known in the art. It can be easily understood however that pre-formed trays can be used in the packaging method according to the present invention wherein the suitable recess has been created by known means.
  • the manufacturing apparatus comprises a first reel (10) on which is wound the lower web material (11) and which is carried rotatably on a bed (12).
  • a thermoforming station (13) typically comprising a heater element (14) facing a mold element (15), where the lower web is thermoformed in a tray-like configuration of the suitable shape and size.
  • Suitable thermoforming methods include a vacuum forming or plug-assist vacuum forming method. In a vacuum forming method the lower web is heated, e.g.
  • a contact heater or infrared method and a vacuum is applied beneath the web causing the web to be pushed by atmospheric pressure down into a preformed mold.
  • air pressure is applied above the web to push it down into a preformed mold by applied pressure.
  • a plug-assist vacuum forming method after the web has been heated and sealed across a mold cavity, a plug shape similar to the mold shape impinges on the web and, upon application of vacuum, the lower web transfers to the mold surface.
  • the recess is preferably formed into the lower web after thermoforming.
  • the apparatus downstream of the thermoforming station the apparatus has a means (16) for creating the recesses which is shown in detail in Fig. 5.
  • This can be obtained e.g. by a punching unit comprising a stamp mold punch and a matrix shaped in the form desired that descends, punches out, and re-ascends once the recess has been created.
  • the recess can be created by any other means including for instance punching units carrying blades or knives or laser treatments.
  • the piece of thermoplastic material which is punched out or cut is preferably removed, e.g. by suction through the punching unit.
  • the recess is created after thermoforming, it may also be formed before thermoforming, particularly when thick lower webs are used as they would not be deformed in the subsequent thermoforming step. In such a case the means (16) should be positioned upstream the thermoforming station.
  • the apparatus has then a portion (17) for distributing products to be packaged in the trays either manually or automatically.
  • the apparatus Downstream of this loading station, the apparatus has a packaging station (18) which carries rotatably a second reel (19) around which the upper web (20) is wound.
  • the loaded tray is brought to a vacuumized condition and sealed by means of the upper web with a conventional vacuum skin packaging method such as described for instance in GB-A-1,307,054, GB-A-1,206,023, BE-A-898,216, EP-A-93,480, EP-A-270,208.
  • a conventional vacuum skin packaging method such as described for instance in GB-A-1,307,054, GB-A-1,206,023, BE-A-898,216, EP-A-93,480, EP-A-270,208.
  • the sealed packages exit the packaging station (18) in the form of a continuous web having a plurality of mutually parallel packages as illustrated in Fig. 4.
  • the packaging station (18) is therefore followed by cutting means (21) which subdivide the sealed package web exiting the packaging apparatus into individual packages.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a detail of the means for creating the recesses according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the punching stamp molds (22), three in a three lane thermoforming machine, are positioned downstream the thermoforming station (13), beneath the bed (12), and in the middle of each lane. They are automatically operated to raise, punch out the web against the corresponding suitable matrices (23) in the area corresponding to the peripheral rim of the end trays, thus forming in each tray at least one recess of the suitably selected shape and size.
  • the punching unit will create a hole in a part of the area between two subsequent thermoformed trays and the transverse severing of the sealed package web at the end of the packaging process to provide separate packages will then yield easy to open packages with a recess at a marginal zone of the peripheral rim of the lower web having half the size and shape of the hole, said recesses being positioned in the back side of one tray and correspondingly on the front side of the following one as illustrated in Fig. 4.
  • the obtained packages will have two recesses of similar shape on the opposite short sides.
  • the lower web used for the manufacture of the easy to open package according to the present invention preferably comprises a multilayered laminated structure having flexibility characteristics which may vary depending on the end use.
  • Semi-rigid gas barrier structures are generally preferred. Typically they are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polystyrene (PS)-based laminates comprising a suitably selected sealant layer at the surface that will be sealed to the upper web. Thickness of the lower web is generally comprised between 100 and 450 ⁇ , typically between 150 and 300 ⁇ .
  • the upper web may be a laminate comprising for example a substrate of e.g. unoriented polyethylene, irradiated or non-irradiated, a ionomer, a polyester, PVC, etc.
  • a barrier layer preferably ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer
  • a suitably selected sealant layer preferably ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer
  • Thickness of typical upper webs to be used in vacuum skin packaging is from about 45 to about 250 ⁇ , preferably from about 70 to about 180 ⁇ .
  • Suitable sealant layers for the lower and upper webs and suitable combinations thereof to provide for an easy to open package are for instance those described in US-A-4,382,513, US-A-4,665,130, US-A-4,666,778, US-A-5,023,121, EP-B-192,131, and European patent application no. 93250270.1, whose content is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the following example and comparative example show that the easy to open package provided with means for pulling apart the package according to the present invention allows for a much easier manual opening than the corresponding easy to open package provided with a conventional pre-cut corner adhered to the upper web as means for initiate the opening.
  • the prior-art comparative packages are made by the vacuum skin packaging process using a CRYOVAC® VS 44 machine.
  • the machine is equipped with a knife to provide the corner of each tray with a pre-cut.
  • the trays, which are obtained in-line by thermoforming, are 13 cm in width, 25 cm in length, and 1.2 cm in depth.
  • the rim width is 1.5 cm in the front and back shorter sides of the tray and about 0.8 cm in the longer sides.
  • the lower web a semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride sheet (200 ⁇ thick) with a contact surface layer (9 ⁇ thick) of a blend of 75 % EVA (12% VA), 20 % polybutene-1, and 5 % polypropylene is used, while the upper web is a flexible coextruded multi-layer film irradiated to a dosage of 12 MRad that consists of the following layers LDPE/Tie/EVOH/Tie/LDPE/Ionomer (wherein Ionomer stands for a Zinc partial salt of ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer with MFI 14 g/10') with respective partial thicknesses (in ⁇ ) of 40/3/8/3/40/6
  • the packages according to the invention are produced using a modified CRYOVAC® VS 44 machine wherein the means for precutting the corners have been removed and replaced by means for creating two recesses in each tray, each one positioned in the middle of the short side of the tray, said recesses being in the form of a half-moon with a radius of about 1.1 cm.
  • the size of the trays and of the tray rims as well as the composition of the lower and upper webs and the machine conditions are identical.
  • thermoformed lower web has been described as being rectangular as this is the shape that is conventionally used. It will however be understood that virtually any shape of the superposed webs can be provided with the means for pulling apart the package according to the invention by creating a suitable recess in the lower web.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
EP96109304A 1995-06-14 1996-06-11 Emballage thermoplastique à ouverture facile Withdrawn EP0748746A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96109304A EP0748746A1 (fr) 1995-06-14 1996-06-11 Emballage thermoplastique à ouverture facile

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95109202 1995-06-14
EP95109202 1995-06-14
EP96109304A EP0748746A1 (fr) 1995-06-14 1996-06-11 Emballage thermoplastique à ouverture facile

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0748746A1 true EP0748746A1 (fr) 1996-12-18

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96109304A Withdrawn EP0748746A1 (fr) 1995-06-14 1996-06-11 Emballage thermoplastique à ouverture facile

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP0748746A1 (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004074106A1 (fr) 2003-02-21 2004-09-02 Cryovac , Inc. Procede et dispositif pour produire un emballage facile a ouvrir
WO2011148328A2 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Procédé cosmétique pour le maquillage et/ou le soin de la peau et/ou des lèvres
WO2011148327A1 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Composition cosmétique à base d'un polymère supramoléculaire et d'un agent de remplissage absorbant
WO2011148325A1 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Composition cosmétique à base d'un polymère supramoléculaire et d'une charge siliconée
WO2011148324A2 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Composition cosmétique basée sur un polymère supramoléculaire et un composé de silicone
WO2013175378A1 (fr) * 2012-05-24 2013-11-28 Timeless Food Technologies Ltd Emballage sous vide
WO2014087183A1 (fr) 2012-12-04 2014-06-12 L'oreal Composition cosmétique pulvérulente solide
WO2016030842A1 (fr) 2014-08-28 2016-03-03 L'oreal Composition cosmétique de type gel à tenue améliorée
US9650196B2 (en) 2012-05-24 2017-05-16 Timeless Food Technologies Ltd. Vacuum packaging
US9930978B2 (en) 2012-05-24 2018-04-03 Timeless Food Technologies Ltd. Vacuum packaging
EP3578160A1 (fr) 2015-12-17 2019-12-11 L'oreal Composition de type gel/gel basée sur des pigments hydrophobes enrobés et un composé de glycol
EP4242117A1 (fr) 2022-03-11 2023-09-13 Ulma Packaging, S.Coop. Procédé de commande pour une machine d'emballage et machine d'emballage associée
WO2023170320A1 (fr) 2022-03-11 2023-09-14 ULMA Packaging, S.Coop. Méthode de commande pour une machine d'emballage et machine d'emballage associée

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2649392A (en) * 1950-03-30 1953-08-18 Kraft Foods Co Method of forming seal in synthetic plastic packages
BE898216A (fr) * 1982-11-15 1984-03-01 Grace W R & Co Procédé et appareil d'emballage sous vide et emballage ainsi obtenu.

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2649392A (en) * 1950-03-30 1953-08-18 Kraft Foods Co Method of forming seal in synthetic plastic packages
BE898216A (fr) * 1982-11-15 1984-03-01 Grace W R & Co Procédé et appareil d'emballage sous vide et emballage ainsi obtenu.

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004074106A1 (fr) 2003-02-21 2004-09-02 Cryovac , Inc. Procede et dispositif pour produire un emballage facile a ouvrir
US7313900B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2008-01-01 Cryovac, Inc. Method and apparatus for manufacturing an easy-to-open package
US9000051B2 (en) 2010-05-26 2015-04-07 L'oreal Cosmetic composition based on a supramolecular polymer and an absorbent filler
WO2011148328A2 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Procédé cosmétique pour le maquillage et/ou le soin de la peau et/ou des lèvres
WO2011148325A1 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Composition cosmétique à base d'un polymère supramoléculaire et d'une charge siliconée
WO2011148324A2 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Composition cosmétique basée sur un polymère supramoléculaire et un composé de silicone
WO2011148327A1 (fr) 2010-05-26 2011-12-01 L'oreal Composition cosmétique à base d'un polymère supramoléculaire et d'un agent de remplissage absorbant
US10335361B2 (en) 2010-05-26 2019-07-02 L'oreal Cosmetic process for making-up and/or caring for the skin and/or the lips
WO2013175378A1 (fr) * 2012-05-24 2013-11-28 Timeless Food Technologies Ltd Emballage sous vide
US9650196B2 (en) 2012-05-24 2017-05-16 Timeless Food Technologies Ltd. Vacuum packaging
US9930978B2 (en) 2012-05-24 2018-04-03 Timeless Food Technologies Ltd. Vacuum packaging
WO2014087183A1 (fr) 2012-12-04 2014-06-12 L'oreal Composition cosmétique pulvérulente solide
US10660827B2 (en) 2012-12-04 2020-05-26 L'oreal Solid powdery cosmetic composition
WO2016030842A1 (fr) 2014-08-28 2016-03-03 L'oreal Composition cosmétique de type gel à tenue améliorée
EP3578160A1 (fr) 2015-12-17 2019-12-11 L'oreal Composition de type gel/gel basée sur des pigments hydrophobes enrobés et un composé de glycol
EP4242117A1 (fr) 2022-03-11 2023-09-13 Ulma Packaging, S.Coop. Procédé de commande pour une machine d'emballage et machine d'emballage associée
WO2023170320A1 (fr) 2022-03-11 2023-09-14 ULMA Packaging, S.Coop. Méthode de commande pour une machine d'emballage et machine d'emballage associée

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