Classifications

• • 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
  • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
  • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
  • B65B31/08—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzle being adapted to pierce the container or wrapper
• • 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
  • B65D81/18—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 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
  • B65D81/20—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 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
  • B65D81/2069—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 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere
  • B65D81/2076—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 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere in an at least partially rigid container

Definitions

• An objective of the invention is to provide a working method of the type described in the preamble for the packaging of various types of food in a single package, in which even better individual circumstances can be created for the various types of food than with the known working method.
• the working method according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the film structure is composed and/or processed such that the characteristics of at least some of the specified parts of the film structure are different from each other. This creates circumstances for the food in the package that are even better adapted per type of food.
• the space in a compartment of the package can be fully sealed off from the outside environment by an gas-impermeable part of the film structure, or indeed interacting with the outside environment by way of a gas- permeable part of the film structure.
• the differences between the characteristics of the parts of the film structure are preferably different in a material sense, for example gas permeability, which factors have an influence upon the condition of the food in the compartments.
• the imprinting of parts of a transparent film with ink has little or no effect on the condition of the food so there is hardly a difference from the parts of the film which are not imprinted.
• An embodiment of the working method according to the invention is characterized by the fact that in the composition and/or processing of the film structure in at least a number of the specified parts an active element can be introduced into the film structure.
• active element should be understood to mean an element that reacts with substances in the food or substances that are emitted by the food.
• the active element in the form of an active substance is placed in and/or on the parts of the film structure.
• the substance might be a material that reacts with the oxygen in the compartment and thus removes the oxygen from the compartment and the food. This is desirable for those types of food that can be stored best in a low-oxygen atmosphere, for example for the protection of flavor and aroma against oxidation.
• Such substances are generally known, for example films that contain iron powder. The iron powder rusts and oxygen is withdrawn from the food and the atmosphere in the compartment. Instead of iron powder ascorbic acid or sulphite can also be used as an active substance. These substances, too, oxidize and oxygen is withdrawn from the food and the atmosphere in the compartment.
• enzymatic-acting substances can be applied to the film, such as glucose oxidase or ethanol oxidase in which enzymes are catalysts for an oxygen-consuming reaction.
• the substance can also be a material, for example, that absorbs oxygen, for example a film of nylon polymer in which cobalt is present for a cobalt-catalyzed oxidation of the nylon polymer.
• the film or sticker can also contain CO 2 absorbing or emitting substances, or ethylene absorbing substances, ethanol emitting substances, moisture-absorbing substances, etc. All of these substances are generally known.
• the active element can also be formed by applying a film structure that is activated upon radiation. By only radiating a number of the parts of the film structure, a film structure with varying characteristics is created.
• the material of the film structure should in this case be such that its characteristics can be changed by radiation or because certain substances in the material of the film structure can be activated by radiation.
• the material of the film structure can discolor in response to radiation and form a light barrier.
• the material can be activated such that for example it obtains the characteristic that it reacts to oxygen and thus removes the oxygen from the compartment.
• EP-A 0520 257 European patent application EP-A 0520 257.
• This known film contains a combination of an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transference catalyst. Here oxidation of the organic compound can be initiated by radiation.
• the manner of radiating is known from the international patent application WO 99/21699. Through this reference both documents are included in the present patent application.
• Processing the film structure can comprise for example placing perforations in at least a number of the parts of the film structure, for example to allow the food to breathe.
• the size of the perforations or the number of perforations can be adjusted depending on the degree of respiration of the food.
• a film with microperforations can also be used.
• a further embodiment of the working method according to the invention is characterized in that at the composition and/or processing of the film structure in at least some of the parts of the film structure, a passive element is introduced that manipulates radiation.
• a passive element that manipulates radiation one should think of an element that can resist radiation - for example microwaves in a microwave oven - reflect them, redistribute them, or absorb them and convert them into heat.
• an aluminum film can modify the field in a microwave such that the capacity in the microwave unit is redistributed and even heating is obtained.
• Materials that can absorb microwave energy and convert it into heat are, for example, aluminum, stainless steel and inconel.
• composition of the film structure can for example take place by using first one film and then on parts of that film placing a second film or sticker.
• the second film or sticker can for example contain the above-mentioned active substance or consist of one of the above-mentioned materials that influence radiation.
• the first film can be perforated and the second film or sticker can be gas impermeable and seal off parts of the first film.
• the film structure can also be composed for example by fastening two films to each other, after which one of the films is locally removed.
• the one film can for example be perforated and the other film can be a gas-impermeable film that is placed in separate parts on the perforated film. Parts of the gas-impermeable film can for example be peeled off the perforated film.
• Yet another method of composing the film structure can for example be to place two or more films with different characteristics beside each other on the tray.
• the various films can contain an active substance, be perforated, be made of a radiation-influencing material, or be gas impermeable. Possibly the films can first be connected with each other before being placed on the tray.
• the composition and/or processing of the film structure preferably takes place before food is placed on the tray. This decreases the chance that waste materials that may occur during the processing end up in the food.
• Another favorable embodiment of the working method according to the invention is characterized in that, before the film structure is composed and/or processed, first the characteristics of the food are determined, after which the composition and/or processing of the film structure takes place according to the characteristics of the food.
• the conditions under which the food is stored can be better coordinated with the actual condition of the food. For example, if the respiration of the food is high, it may be desirable that the space in the compartment be more connected with the environment, such that a film structure with high permeability is desirable.
• the invention also relates to a package manufactured according to the working method according to the invention comprising a tray with various compartments in which various types of food are present, with one type of food in each compartment, which compartments are closed off by a film structure that is connected to the tray around the openings of the compartments, where above each compartment part of the film structure is present.
• the invention is characterized in that the characteristics of at least some of the parts of the film structure are different.
• the characteristics of at least some of the parts of the film structure are different.
• the various characteristics can be acquired because the film structure is comprised of various films, for example a first film and a second film or a sticker that is present on parts of the first film, or two or more films beside each other with different characteristics.
• Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the package according to the invention in a top view
• Figure 2 shows the illustration in Figure 1 as a cross-section
• Figure 3 shows a diagram of a first embodiment of the working method according to the invention
• Figure 4 shows a diagram of a second embodiment of the working method according to the invention
• Figure 5 shows a first embodiment of the composition of the film structure
• Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the composition of the film structure.
• FIG. 1 and 2 an embodiment of the package according to the invention is shown in a top view respectively cross-section along line A-A.
• the package 1 is comprised of a tray 3 that has various compartments 5, 7, and 9 that are open on top.
• the compartments are closed off by a film structure 11 that is fastened via sealing seams 13 to flanges 15 of the tray 3.
• the compartments 5, 7, 9 there are various types of food 17, 19.
• the film structure 11 is divided into various parts 21 , 23, 25, that have different characteristics and each close off a compartment.
• part 21 and parts 23 and 25 form individual films 27 en 29 that are fastened side by side on the tray.
• Films 27 and 29 are for example transparent gas- impermeable films.
• part 23 of the film 29 is provided with perforations 31 and another part 25 of the film 29 has a non- transparent sticker 33 that seals off the space in the compartment against light.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the working method according to the invention for packaging different types of food in a single package.
• the film structure 43 is manufactured.
• various films 45, 47 can be fastened on or on top of each other and/or the film structure can be processed.
• the fastening and/or the processing takes place in a machine 49.
• the film structure 43 is then brought into a further production process 51.
• trays 53 are filled with different types of food 55, 57. Then the film structure 43 is brought above the open side of the tray 53. Then the film structure 43 is sealed on the tray 53 by melting the film structure 43 to the tray 53 with a heated sealing stamp 59.
• Figure 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the working method according to the invention.
• the process of composing and/or processing the film structure is integrated into the process of filling the trays and the fastening of the film structure to the trays. After filling the compartments of the tray 53 with different types of food 55, 57 the condition of the food is measured. Depending on the conditions the machine
• the package can be even better coordinated with regard to the type of food being packaged.
• the film structure can be comprised in various ways.
• Figure 5 shows a first embodiment of the composition of the film structure and placement on a tray.
• the two different films 61 and 63 form, side by side, the film structure 65, and each film seals off one or more compartments of the tray 67.
• Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the composition of the film structure.
• two different films 71 and 73 are fastened to each other and form a film structure.
• the film structure thus formed 75 possesses different parts 77 and 79 to seal off different compartments of the trays 81.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=19769391

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2000
  • 2000-06-16 AT AT00942546T patent/ATE288391T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-06-16 EP EP00942546A patent/EP1194350B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-16 DE DE60017908T patent/DE60017908D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-16 CA CA002377538A patent/CA2377538C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-06-16 WO PCT/NL2000/000423 patent/WO2001012523A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-06-16 NZ NZ516165A patent/NZ516165A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-06-16 AU AU57151/00A patent/AU769924B2/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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