EP1283178A1 - Apparatus for packaging food products in slices - Google Patents

Abstract

A package, comprising a tray (30) with a sealed transparent covering layer (32), contains an inner supporting layer (10) with cut-outs forming a series of parallel slots to receive the separate slices (38) of a food product. The slots are open at one edge of the layer, creating a series of flexible tongues (20) that have surface projections to grip the slices and prevent them from slipping. A package, comprising a tray (30) with a sealed transparent covering layer (32), contains an inner supporting layer (10) with cut-outs forming a series of parallel slots to receive the separate slices (38) of a food product. The slots are open at one edge of the layer, creating a series of flexible tongues (20) that have surface projections to grip the slices and prevent them from slipping. The free end of each tongue has a tab (24) by which it can be held, and the projections are made from V-shaped slits pushed out to form points.

Description

The invention relates to the field of packaging and it relates more particularly to a device for packaging of sliced food products.

We already know packaging devices of this kind which include a backing sheet, usually flat, clean to receive the tranches arranged in recovery relationship partial in a given direction.

Such devices are used in particular for presentation and the packaging of slices of smoked meat or fish smoked, especially smoked salmon.

In known packaging devices of this kind, the carrier sheet is usually a cardboard sheet of which one side is glazed and receives the product slices.

As these products have a natural tendency to cling between them, we usually provide sheets made of plastic which are each arranged between two neighboring slices to facilitate their mutual separation.

The assembly formed by the support sheet and the slices of product is usually placed in a package, which can whether or not it is vacuum-packed, and which includes a receptacle in which are placed the support sheet and the slices of product and a transparent cover sheet whose edge is tightly connected to the peripheral edge of the receptacle.

These known packaging devices generally give satisfaction but pose different problems.

First of all, they are designed to be placed flat, i.e. essentially horizontal, on the shelves some stores.

However, for reasons of convenience, it is often desirable that these packages are arranged in a position generally vertical or at least inclined to the horizontal in order to occupy a reduced space on the shelves and attract more attention from the consumer.

However, when these known packaging devices are placed in a generally vertical position, the edges of the products tend to slide on top of each other and modify the presentation of products.

Furthermore, the separation of the slices from each other Often poses problems for the consumer, especially when sheets are not provided between the product slices.

The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the drawbacks supra.

It aims in particular to provide a packaging device of the kind defined above which facilitates the maintenance of product slices, especially when presented on shelving.

The invention also aims to provide a packaging device like this that can be placed in a position generally vertical, without the product slices being able to slide over each other.

It also aims to provide a device for packaging the aforementioned kind which facilitates the separation of the slices of produced by the consumer.

To this end, the invention provides a device for packaging the genre defined in the introduction, in which the support sheet includes generally parallel cutouts which extend from an edge of the backing sheet to define a plurality of deformable tongues, susceptible to be discarded each from the plane of the support sheet for facilitate the separation of a slice from the other slices.

Thus, the support sheet comprises deformable tongues, separated by cutouts, which facilitates the introduction slices and also allows to separate and separate them enter more easily.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sheet support includes reliefs to favor the attachment of slices and prevent slipping.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these reliefs are punctured parts forming a point.

Preferably, the tabs extend in one direction generally perpendicular to the edge of the support. But, they may also, alternatively, extend in one direction oblique to form an angle of chosen value, different at a right angle to the edge of the support.

The tongues advantageously have a free end forming grip tab.

The edge of the support, from which the cutouts are formed, is preferably a longitudinal edge.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrier sheet is a plastic sheet of food grade. For this, we can use any type of polymer, with a preference for polypropylenes (PP) and polyesters (PET).

The device of the invention advantageously comprises, in in addition, a receptacle intended to contain the support sheet and products in slices, and with a border in projection, as well as a cover sheet connected in a waterproof at the edge of the receptacle to enclose the sheet support and sliced products.

la figure 1

est une vue en plan d'une feuille support propre à faire partie d'un dispositif d'emballage selon l'invention ;

la figure 2

représente le détail II, à échelle agrandie, de la Figure 1 ;

la figure 3

est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un dispositif d'emballage, partiellement ouvert, renfermant une feuille support analogue à celle de la Figure 1, sur laquelle sont déposés des produits en tranches ;

la figure 4

est une vue en perspective de la feuille support et des tranches qu'elle supporte ;

la figure 5

est une vue en plan d'une feuille support dans une autre forme de réalisation de l'invention ;

la figure 6

est une vue partielle en coupe et à échelle agrandie de la feuille support de la figure 5, au niveau d'un relief de cette dernière.

In the description which follows, given solely by way of example, reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:

figure 1

is a plan view of a support sheet suitable for forming part of a packaging device according to the invention;

figure 2

shows detail II, on an enlarged scale, of Figure 1;

figure 3

is an exploded perspective view of a packaging device, partially open, containing a support sheet similar to that of Figure 1, on which are deposited sliced products;

figure 4

is a perspective view of the support sheet and the slices it supports;

figure 5

is a plan view of a carrier sheet in another embodiment of the invention;

figure 6

is a partial sectional view on an enlarged scale of the support sheet of Figure 5, at a relief thereof.

We first refer to Figure 1 which shows a sheet support 10 according to the invention, which is intended to support slices of food products arranged in relation partial recovery in a given direction. It's about especially slices of smoked meat or smoked fish, especially particular smoked salmon.

In the example shown, the support sheet 10 is shaped general rectangular and it is delimited by two edges opposite longitudinal 12 and 14 as well as by two edges opposite transverses 15 and 16. It could alternatively affect a different shape, especially an oval shape or rounded. In the example, the support sheet is formed in a transparent or translucent plastic material, food grade, preferably polypropylene or polyester. Its thickness is usually around 5/10 of a millimeter.

From the longitudinal edge 12, cutouts are formed 18, in the example four in number, which are generally parallel to each other, and which extend over a depth P more than half the width L of the backing sheet 10. In the example, this depth P corresponds substantially two-thirds of the width L of the support sheet.

These cutouts extend here in a perpendicular direction at the longitudinal edge 12 and they thus delimit four tabs 20 having substantially the same width and a portion 22, of greater width, which is delimited between the last cut 18 and the transverse edge 16. This part 22 does not constitute a tab per se.

Each of the tabs 18 is extended by a free end 24 intended to form a gripping tab and which can be folded transversely. By the way, on the sheet support are provided reliefs 26 formed here by punctured parts forming a point, as seen on the detail of Figure 2 and on the section of Figure 6. These reliefs are arranged in line on the different parts of the support sheet 10, including on each of the tabs 20 and on part 22. As can be seen, each of the reliefs form a point which is turned towards the edge transverse 15 which, as will be seen later, is intended to be oriented upwards in the presentation position of the packaging.

We now refer to Figure 3 which shows the sheet support 10 with complete packaging including a receptacle 30 and a cover sheet 32. The receptacle 30 is made of plastic and is formed by everything suitable process, in particular by thermoforming or injection. This receptacle has a flat rectangular bottom 34 surrounded by a projecting border 36 on which is tightly connected around the edge of the cover sheet 32. The latter is advantageously a sheet of transparent plastic which is heat sealed on the receptacle 30 to form a sealed, vacuum or no, allowing the product to be placed under a modified atmosphere.

In this waterproof packaging, the support sheet 10 is housed, on which are placed slices 38 of food product, arranged in partial recovery relationship in a given direction, here in a direction parallel to the edges 12 and 14 of the support sheet 10.

The presence of the cutouts facilitates the introduction of the slices 38, which allows them to be separated and seized more easily.

Furthermore, the presence of the reliefs 26 facilitates the attachment. slices that remain in a given position, even when the packaging is generally in a position vertical, as shown in Figure 3. Indeed, as the reliefs 26 have their point directed towards the upper edge 15, the slices are thus hung on the sheet support and are not likely to slip.

In addition, during use, the presence of tabs 24 facilitates the separation of the slices from each other, as shown by arrow F in Figure 4. It suffices effect of lifting the first tab 20-1 to remove the first tranche 38, and so on with the others tongues. The flexibility of the plastic allows deform each of the tabs away from the plane of the support sheet.

We now refer to Figure 5 which shows another embodiment of a support sheet 10. The latter differs essentially from the support sheet of the Figure 1 by the fact that the transverse edges 15 and 16 are of generally curved shape and that the cutouts 18, as well as the tongues 20, extend in a direction generally oblique to the longitudinal edge 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, each of the reliefs 26 is, here also produced in the form of a punctured part, forming point, which forms an acute angle A with respect to the plane of the support sheet. This angle is advantageously between 65 ° and 75 °.

The structure of the support sheet is likely to many variations, particularly with regard to the location and the orientation of the tabs, as well as the shape and dimensions of the support sheet.

Also, the reliefs are not necessarily obtained by punctures in the thickness of the support sheet. he can other types of relief, in particular bosses.

The invention finds general application in the packaging of sliced food products, especially slices smoked meat, fish, or the like.

Claims (9)

Device for packaging sliced food products, comprising a support sheet (10), generally flat, suitable for receiving the slices (38) arranged in partial overlapping relationship in a given direction,
characterized in that the support sheet (10) comprises generally parallel cutouts (18) which extend from an edge (12) of the support sheet to define a plurality of deformable tongues (20) capable of be separated each from the plane of the support sheet to facilitate the separation of a slice from the other slices. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support sheet (10) comprises reliefs (26) to promote the attachment of the edges (38) and prevent their sliding. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the reliefs (26) are punctured parts forming a point. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tongues (20) extend in a direction generally perpendicular or oblique with respect to the edge (12) of the support sheet. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tongues (20) have a free end (24) forming a gripping tab. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the edge (12) of the support sheet is a longitudinal edge. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support sheet (10) is a sheet of food-grade plastic. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support sheet (10) is made of polypropylene or polyester. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a receptacle (30) intended to contain the support sheet (10) and the sliced products (38) and having a projecting border (36), as well as a cover sheet (32) tightly connected to the edge (36) of the receptacle (30) to enclose the support sheet (10) and the sliced products.

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