EP1306630A2 - Thermally insulated package with internal cooling - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging unit (1) comprises an outer container (2) made of a heat insulating, preferably foamed plastic material, and an inner foil (8) which is impenetrable by liquid and is arranged so that one of more spaces (9) for a cooling medium (10) is left between it and the outer container.

Description

The invention relates to a temperature-insulating packaging for storage and for the transportation of food comprising a lined with inner film Outer container and between inner film and outer container inner surfaces themselves extending spaces for receiving a cooling medium.

Food packaging must meet a number of requirements. This applies in particular to packaging in which fresh products such as fresh meat or Fresh fish are stored. The stored goods should last for a longer period be storable without losing taste or appearance. Because of the target prolonged shelf life, it is usually advantageous to prevent the ingress of Exclude ambient air in the packaging. For this, the packaging can be closed gas-tight and advantageously continue with carbon dioxide and / or other inert gases such as nitrogen.

Many food products secrete liquid during storage. in the In the case of meat or fish, these are blood, tissue fluid, meat juice, or water.

Fresh fish today is predominantly found in non-gas-tight, diffusible containers and styrofoam boxes open to the top with the addition of wet ice (broken glass or Tubular ice) packed and sold as a cooling medium. Kick the product and wet ice in direct contact with each other. Leaking tissue water and melt water require the use of special vehicles, for hygiene reasons only Transport fresh fish.

Covered boxes are known from the prior art, which have a raised floor have, in which tissue and melt water can collect. water With these systems, the product and the product are not strictly separated. This can be used Contamination of the product result if the secreted liquid in the floor area is freely movable and in the event of vibrations or twisting with the packaged goods can contact again.

In order to meet the increasingly stringent hygiene requirements and for alternative ones Being able to use transport options is a hermetic packaging of the Fresh fish necessary without the addition of wet ice. German food law writes e.g. for fresh fish products a storage and transport temperature of 0 up to + 2 ° C.

The packaging according to the invention described below enables refrigerated Dry transports and have the further advantage of being a germ-resistant To enable the packaging goods to be stored under a protective atmosphere.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a packaging which an effective separation of the packaging goods and the cooling medium can be guaranteed Furthermore, all-round ventilation of the packaged goods is allowed as far as possible and thus the shelf life of the packaged goods compared to conventional ones Packaging improved. At the same time, the packaging should be inexpensive and environmentally friendly be producible, disposable or recyclable. Beyond that the goods to be packaged in the packaging must be stored in an attractive and insightful manner.

The object is achieved according to the invention by packaging according to the main claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a temperature-insulating packaging an outer container having a bottom inner surface and the bottom inner surface enclosing inner wall surface (s), the outer container being produced essentially is made of a foamed plastic and the outer container inside has an inner film made of a flexible or rigid plastic material, wherein the inner film over the bottom inner surface and / or inner wall surfaces of the outer container spans a space for receiving a cooling medium and the inner film separates the cooling medium from the packaging liquid-tight and the inner film preferably by spacers from the bottom inner surface and / or the inner wall surfaces is spaced.

The outer container preferably has a substantially rectangular box shape on.

The outer container is preferably made of a foamed plastic such as EPS (expanded polystyrene). The outer container can be produced on machines are widely used for the production of polystyrene molded parts from EPS (polystyrene beads) be used.

The spacers for spacing the inner film from the bottom inner surface of the Outer containers can be rib-shaped, lattice-shaped, knob-shaped or columnar and part of the bottom inner surface of the outer container or part of the inner wall surface be placed or as an insert on the inner surface of the floor or on the inner wall surfaces be created. The spacers can also be part of the inner film his.

The spacers are e.g. as a defined rib, lattice, column and / or knob construction formed of the inner surfaces of the outer container and thereby form a part of the outer container, which is preferably made of the same material as the External container is made. The spacers can also be part of the inner film be - especially if it consists of a hard film - and preferably made of the same material as the inner film.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the spacers are used as an insert placed in the packaging on the inside surface of the floor or on the inside walls created. As far as the spacers are shaped in the form of an insert, can the insert (s) in the form of a three-dimensional grid or a rib structure.

On the spacers and / or on the upper circumferential edge of the packaging the inner film rests. The inner film preferably has a thickness of 250 to 400 µm and is also preferably a hard film.

The inner film is preferably made of a sealable PS / EVOH / PE composite film in the deep-drawing process (PS = polystyrene, EVOH = ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, PE = polyethylene), also preferably produced on a separate system. On the side in contact with the product there is advantageously a PE, PE / PP or PP sealing layer (PP = polypropylene).

The inner foil with the outer container inner wall, the upper edge of the side walls and / or the spacers in connection. The Composite can be produced by applying water vapor and a defined pressure his. This becomes particularly effective through heat welding with a same material, such as PS (polystyrene) of the inner film or outer Inner film coating with EPS of the outer container inner wall can be effected.

The inner film can be formed in the upper edge area so that the outer Edge of the inner film around the side walls of the outer container when inserted embraces. Furthermore, the inner film can have a bead in the outer edge area have by snapping into one on the outer wall surfaces of the outer container a detachable connection of inner film and Forms outer container. If the inner film is made of a hard film, this can as releasably connected to the outer container, e.g. sent to separate recycling become.

By inserting the inner film into the outer container there are gaps defined in the area of the outer container bottom and / or the side walls. The Cooling medium can either be introduced into the outer container before the film is applied be or through openings accessible from the outside or from above into the spaces be introduced.

The cooling medium is preferably introduced during at least one opening at least one second opening allows the displaced interspace air to escape guaranteed and thus ensures the necessary pressure equalization. The openings are advantageously introduced as bores in the upper region of the side walls. The openings are furthermore preferred as essentially horizontal opening areas formed and part of the upper horizontal edge surfaces of the side walls the packaging.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the packaging is rectangular Body formed and the holes forming the openings are in at least one preferably in at least two of the abutting edges of the side walls educated. For this purpose, the abutting edges are preferably in the form of reinforced corner areas trained to be of sufficient strength to surround the bore To ensure wall surfaces.

Water, ice, ice / salt, ice / water, ice / water / salt mixtures are the cooling medium suitable. Depending on the requirement, the cooling medium is preferably in the form a pumpable mass containing smaller ice bodies. That under the term "fluid-ice" known cooling medium is a suspension of in a water reservoir stirred flake ice, the freezing point of which is lowered by the addition of table salt becomes. The temperature of this cold mixture is for the one described here Purpose preferably approx. - 1 to -1.5 C, but it can be added further be further lowered by table salt.

Alternatively, the cavity can also be filled with carbon dioxide snow as the cooling medium become. The carbon dioxide released by sublimation can be used a diffusible outer container (e.g. made of EPS) through the gas-permeable ones Diffuse walls outwards. By using a compact Barrier film as the inner film can not carbon dioxide inside the product penetrate.

Possibly. the cooling medium can also be placed as a solid block on the inside surface of the floor and if necessary also be applied to the inner wall surfaces and subsequently by Apply the inner film to be enclosed liquid-tight. The inner film is preferably led over the edge of the packaging and on the horizontal Edge surface welded or glued to the packaging. The launched or The ice blocks can also be used to space the inner foil by freezing, such as in the form of a frozen in the ice block Lattice or rib structure. It is also possible to use the cooling medium in liquid form to bring uncooled or partially refrigerated form into the spaces and subsequently subject the (partially finished) packaging to a cooling step.

The bottom and / or the side walls can also have a closable outlet opening included to drain the cooling medium.

In particular, packaging is the subject of the present invention, its outer container has a cover that closes the container at the top. A such cover is a top sheet that is on the top area / top of the Outer container can be applied as a sealing edge.

The top film can be made of a possibly flexible and preferably transparent plastic film manufactured and connected to the upper edge of the outer container. This connection is advantageously formed by heat / heat sealing. The top film is also advantageously gas-tight and, if appropriate, with the container being filled with carbon dioxide or an inert gas such as nitrogen and with reducing of the oxygen content connected to the outer container.

Suitable materials for the top sheet are sheets of polyester material, including Polyester composite materials, which preferably have a total thickness of 30 up to 120 µm, preferably 50 to 90 µm. The polyester film can be made with polyethylene or otherwise coated and before application to the outer container be printed. As a sealing medium for attaching cover film with an outer container can be used a polyethylene layer applied to the outer container.

After inserting the packaging goods, the packaging is preferably one Shell sealer fed, which first evacuates the packaging, then with back-gassed a defined gas mixture (protective gas atmosphere) and ultimately through Sealing an upper film hermetically sealed. When sealing the top film can advantageously also the filling or venting bores described above the hollow chambers are closed so that no cooling medium can leak.

The packaging can also preferably have an upper cover that continues preferably consists of the same material as the bottom and side walls. The Lid can be placed on the upper edge of the wall surfaces and / or between the wall surfaces may be partially inserted and then e.g. on the top Rest the edge of the spacers and / or the upper edge of the wall surfaces. The closing edge of the lid preferably has a circumferential, essentially right-angled recess, one leg of which on the upper horizontal Edge of the wall surfaces rests, while the other leg on the inner surface of the Sidewall is applied.

Preferably forms on the upper end of the side wall (horizontal edge surface) the following sequence of layers: inner foil, lid foil followed by the lid.

The packaging has sufficient stability that the direct palletizing on EURO pallets without the use of additional supporting cardboard boxes or the like allowed.

This corresponds to the execution of a distribution packaging. By an appropriate The packaging can also be labeled as a presentation or sales package be used.

The choice of materials enables disposal via the Styrofoam recycling network (e.g. styrene composite). The cooling medium can be used without special precautions or additional effort can be disposed of in the public sewer network.

Furthermore, the packaging can have a product carrier over the inner film, which forms a space between the lower inner film and the product and for ventilation of the product from below and at the same time prevents that Product is in the tissue water.

Insert bodies suitable as product carriers are, for example, the subject of German Utility model DE 201 00 596.4, which is hereby expressly included in the content of this application is made.

The insert body can also be openwork, of which the outer container at least partially lined inner film spaced and to hold liquid suitable product support.

The outer container and insert body are preferably separable in two parts executed. The insert body is at least partially as an openwork product support trained, the product overlay of the inner film possibly also objected to an area share of the inner bottom surface of the outer container is that a free space is formed under the product pad. The free space serves to ventilate the lower side of the packaged goods and ensures a gas exchange in the entire packaging, in particular also about the breakthroughs of the product support with the gas volume above the Product support.

The product support forms part of the insert body, preferably is essentially the entire insert body is designed upwards as a product support. The Product support is preferably flat.

The product edition can e.g. consist of at least two layers, the upper one layer of the product support that is at least partially in contact with the product essentially impenetrable to an aqueous liquid and the other Layer is suitable for receiving the aqueous liquid. The The liquid is essentially absorbed by adsorption of the liquid preferably over the inner cut or punched surfaces of the openings. The Layers can be firmly connected to each other or just one another be in the mood.

The two layers can consist of one and the same material, for example from an open-celled one, for taking up an aqueous liquid suitable foamed plastic / polymer material and one the second Layer-forming closed-cell plastic / polymer material, preferably Polystyrene, which blocks the passage of liquids, and on the outside (s) facing surface (s).

Polystyrene is particularly suitable, the one layer consisting of so-called foamed or expanded open cell polystyrene material and the other (s) Layer (s) of closed-cell polystyrene material (s). Suitable polystyrene - Materials are e.g. the DEPRON® DRY products from Depron B.V., Weert, The Netherlands. The open cell polymer material is capable of liquid to absorb like a sponge.

The layer suitable for taking up the aqueous liquid can also consist of a Composite material containing, for example, an inorganic water-adsorbing material or also from e.g. cellulose-containing water-absorbing material or contain this. The essentially impervious to an aqueous liquid Layer preferably has a water-repellent hydrophobic surface that prevents the sticking of liquid and thus a good removal the aqueous liquid allowed.

The openings in the product support are designed in the form of cutouts. The recesses in the insert body serve on the one hand to transport the Liquid to the zones of the insert body suitable for liquid absorption to allow and on the other hand to allow all-round ventilation of the packaged goods. The shape of the recesses is essentially arbitrary. The cutouts However, should be distributed over the product support surface so that ventilation of the Good packaging is guaranteed over the entire contact area. advantageously, the area of the recesses preferably takes at least 20 at least 40% of the area of the product circulation.

The insert body can rest on support members for spacing. The support links can be separate interposed support members or characteristics of the side Walls and / or the bottom inner surface of the outer container, characteristics of the inner film and / or the insert body. The support members are part of the outer container or the inner film, these can be used as a side wall slope, wall bead, or Upward curvature, for example in the form of a pyramid or spacer rib, must be pronounced.

The product support surface is e.g. about 0.2 to 5 cm, preferably 0.5 to 3 cm, of the lower inner film or the deeper surface areas of the lower inner film spaced and has a thickness of preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, particularly preferably 2 to 5 mm.

An adsorption pad can be placed on the lower inner film (possibly in addition to the product carrier) be placed to absorb liquid.

The packaging material is preferably a food, such as fresh meat or Fresh fish. It is recommended that everyone used to make the packaging Materials are food-grade / food-grade.

The packaging according to the invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 explained as an example.

Figure 1 shows the packaging according to the invention from above. Part of the floor surface (4) are knob-shaped spacers (12). The side walls (5) have rib-shaped Spacers (13). The upper edge (16) of the side walls (5) has Openings accessible from above in the region of the abutting edges of the side walls (17) (14), which are in the form of bores (15) as a connection to the through the inner film (8) and the inner wall surfaces (6) or inner floor surfaces (4) are formed Continue spaces (9) and to introduce the cooling medium (10) into the Gaps (9) serve. The abutting edges of the side walls (17) are in the area of Bores (15) reinforced with material so that sufficiently strong drilling walls are formed. The upper cutting surface of the bores (15) (= opening (14)) is essentially planar, so that it can be closed by applying the top film (18) is.

Figure 2 shows a section through the packaging along the line B-B (see Figure 1). Inner (8) and top film (18) and cover (20) are also shown. The inner film (8) rests on the spacers (11) and is still above the top Edge (16) of the side walls (5) up to one on the outer wall surfaces (7) in the upper Edge area of the side walls (5) surrounding bead (23). The inner film (8) is designed as a hard film and encloses the cooling medium (10) in a liquid-tight manner, so that it cannot come into contact with the packaged goods (24).

The product to be cooled (24) is on a product support (22) which is part of a Product carrier (21) is placed and so with a ventilation space released by the inner film (8) spaced.

The outer container (2) is sealed gas-tight at the top by an upper film (18). The upper film (18) is applied to the sealing edge (19) by a sealing process. The sealing edge (19) is from the outer surface of the inner film (8) is placed over the side wall edge (16). There is a lid on the top film (18) (20) hung up. The lid (20) is like the outer container (2) made of a foamed Made of plastic material.

FIG. 3 shows a partial view of FIG. 2 without an inner film, with a top view the rear inner side wall surface (5, 6) of the packaging with rib-shaped spacers (13) is also shown.

FIG. 4 shows the shape of the inner film (8) designed as a hard film. The inner film is formed in the upper edge area so that the outer edge of the inner film around encompasses the side walls (5) of the outer container (2) in the inserted state by snapping into the on the outer wall surfaces (7) of the outer container (2) in The detachable edge (23) can be snapped into place.

Claims (14)

Packaging (1) having an outer container (2) with an inner surface (4) and the bottom inner surface (4) enclosing the side walls (5) forming Inner wall surfaces (6), the outer container (2) being essentially produced made of a temperature-insulating, preferably foamed, plastic material and the outer container (2) has an inner film (8) made of a flexible inside or solid plastic material, the inner film (8) and the bottom inner surface (4) and / or inner wall surfaces (6) one or more intermediate spaces (9) for receiving of a cooling medium (10) and the inner film holds the cooling medium (10) separated from the packaged goods (24) in a liquid-tight manner. Packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner film (8) through Spacers (11) from the inner floor surface (4) and / or the inner wall surfaces (6) of the outer container (2) is spaced. Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer container (2) has a substantially rectangular box shape. Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer container (2) consists of foamed polystyrene or a foamed polystyrene material. Packaging (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the spacers (11), lattice, knob (12), rib (13) or columnar are formed and part of the inner surface (4) and / or Part of the inner wall surfaces (6) of the outer container (2) and / or as an insert, which can also be part of the inner film (8), are placed in the outer container (2) on the inner surface surface (4) or on the inner wall surfaces (6) are created. Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner film (8) has a thickness of 250 to 400 µm and is preferably a hard film. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner film (8) is detachably connected to the outer container (2) and / or the spacers (11). Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging (1) contains a cooling medium (10) in the spaces (9) and the cooling medium (10) water, ice, ice / salt, ice / water , Ice / water / salt mixtures or solid carbon dioxide. Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging contains the cooling medium (10) in the form of a pumpable mass. Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging (1) has openings (14) in the form of bores (15) in the side walls (5), preferably in the upper edge (16) of the side walls (5) are introduced and are connected to the intermediate spaces (9) for receiving the cooling medium (10). Packaging (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the bores (15) forming the openings (14) are formed in the abutting edges (17) of the side walls (5). Packaging (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging (1) upwards by means of an upper film (18) which acts on the upper region / upper edge (16) of the side walls (5) of the outer container (2) Applied sealing edge (19) is essentially gas-tight and the top film (18) preferably also closes the openings (14) according to claims 10 and 11. Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging (1) has an upper cover (20) which is made of the same material as the base (3) and side wall (5) and on the upper edge (16) the side wall (5) is placed and / or at least partially inserted between the inner wall surfaces (6). Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging (1) has a product carrier (21) on the inside which has a perforated inner film (8) at least partially spaced from the outer container (2) lining the outer container (2) and has a suitable product support (22) for holding liquid.

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