EP1549564B1 - Method for packaging perishable products and package for perishable products - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging for perishable foods, is made using a thermo-sealable bag with layers forming a central and side pouches, used to contain a substance that maintains a required conservation temperature in the central pouch. It can be made from a continuous multilayer sleeve welded at one end then at the second end after filling, with ice and a cold accumulating substance inserted in the side pouches. The packaging procedure, especially for perishable foodstuffs, consists of making a thermo-sealable bag (1) with layers (3, 4) forming a central pouch (5) and one or more side pouches (6), with the latter used to contain a substance that maintains a required conservation temperature for a product (2) in the central pouch. The bag can be made from a continuous multilayer sleeve welded at one end before filling and at the second end after filling, with ice and a cold accumulating substance (8) inserted in the side pouches. The outer layers of the pack can be made from a combination of paper and plastic, with optional aluminum foil.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of packaging perishable products in the general sense such as, for example, pharmaceutical, food or the like. The subject of the invention relates more specifically to the technical field of the packaging of products at their point of sale and / or packaging and in particular food products sold retail, wholesale or semi-wholesale.

In the state of the art, there are many types of packaging especially for the packaging of food products. For example, patent FR 2 775 252 has proposed to use a sheath made, at least in part, of a heat-sealable material. This sheath is made from two composite sheets superimposed and assembled (by gluing or welding for example) at their longitudinal edges. Each composite sheet has an outer layer of aluminum, an inner layer of low density polyethylene and a layer of paper covered with a layer of low density polyethylene. This sheath packaged in rolls is intended to be cut at the place of use in a length slightly greater than that of the product to be packaged. Preferably, one end of the sheath is cut and closed simultaneously by heat sealing in order to produce a bag. Then, after introduction of the product to be packaged in the bag thus produced, the other end of the sheath is heat sealed so as to obtain a sealed package.

The use of such a packaging sheath is particularly useful for packaging fresh or frozen food products such as fish or meat at the retail sale, wholesale or semi-wholesale. However, transport between the point of sale and the place of storage of such perishable food products can be relatively long, which poses a problem in terms of the quality of preservation of a fresh product for example. In the same sense, such a package does not keep for a long time, a food product at a temperature above room temperature, such as grilled meat for example.

In a different technical field which is that of the preservation of food products by refrigeration, JP 06 18 34 63 proposed a package for a frozen product, consisting of two contiguous bags each provided with filling holes for water. After introducing the frozen product into a bag and filling the two bags with water, both bags are closed before being frozen.

Such packaging is not suitable for storing a food product outside a refrigerated space. In addition, such a packaging requires that the product is in contact with water and / or ice. In other words, a food product can not be stored under good conditions, by such packaging placed in an environment at room temperature.

It therefore appears the need to be able to have a technique for quickly and easily conditioning a perishable product while allowing to maintain it in temperature conditions adapted to its nature of conservation.

The object of the invention is therefore to meet this need by providing a method for the simple and rapid packaging of perishable products while ensuring its maintenance at a conservation temperature suitable for packaged products.

• réaliser un emballage thermoscellable comportant une poche centrale accolée avec au moins une poche latérale, les poches étant fermées sur trois de leurs côtés, de sorte que le volume interne des poches est accessible par un bord transversal,
• placer, dans chaque poche latérale, un moyen pour maintenir le produit périssable à sa température de conservation,
• placer le produit périssable à l'intérieur de la poche centrale,
• et réaliser une soudure selon le bord transversal des poches de manière à fermer simultanément les poches en vue de constituer un emballage étanche avec une poche centrale étanche avec chaque poche latérale.

The subject of the invention therefore relates to a process for perishable products having a storage temperature, using a heat-sealable package having two transverse edges and two longitudinal edges, comprising the following steps:

• producing a heat-sealable package comprising a central pocket contiguous with at least one side pocket, the pockets being closed on three of their sides, so that the internal volume of the pockets is accessible by a transverse edge,
• placing in each side pocket a means for maintaining the perishable product at its storage temperature,
• place the perishable product inside the central pocket,
• and performing a weld along the transverse edge of the pockets so as to simultaneously close the pockets to form a sealed package with a sealed central pocket with each side pocket.

Another object of the invention is to propose a heat-sealable packaging for the packaging of perishable products, especially food or similar, having two transverse edges and two longitudinal edges, characterized in that it comprises at least three superposed heat-sealable composite sheets, two internal sheets being intended to form between them, a central pocket for receiving the perishable product, an outer sheet constituting a sealed and thermal barrier intended to constitute, with a first inner sheet, a side pocket for receiving a means for holding the product perishable at its storage temperature, the pockets being closed on three of their sides so that the internal volume of the pockets is accessible by a transverse edge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package designed to allow its easy opening to introduce the product to be packaged, even for a user with wet hands or gloves.

To achieve such an objective, the packaging according to the invention is characterized in that at least each heat-sealable layer forming the inner surface of the central pocket has a BENDTSEN DIN 53108 roughness of less than or equal to 1,200 ml / min and in that that the heat-sealable layers have, between them, a coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.5 to ensure easy opening of the central pocket according to DIN 53 375.

• La fig. 1 est une vue de dessus montrant un exemple de réalisation d'un emballage conforme à l'invention.
• La fig. 2 est une vue d'un emballage selon l'invention prêt à permettre le conditionnement d'un produit.
• La fig. 3 est une vue en prise sensiblement selon les lignes III-III de la fig. 2 montrant à grande échelle, une coupe partielle d'un emballage selon l'invention.

Various other characteristics appear from the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.

• Fig. 1 is a top view showing an embodiment of a packaging according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a view of a package according to the invention ready to allow the packaging of a product.
• Fig. 3 is a view substantially in line with the lines III-III of FIG. 2 showing on a large scale, a partial section of a package according to the invention.

As is more particularly apparent from FIGS. 1 to 3, the object of the invention relates to a package 1 adapted to package perishable products 2 in the general sense, such as food products such as fish or meat, hot or cold, or even pharmaceutical products or veterinarians. The package 1 according to the invention is constituted by at least three and, for example as illustrated, by four superimposed heat-sealable composite sheets 3, 4 having a parallelepiped shape whose dimensions are adapted to the size of the product 2 to be packaged.

• un composite comportant du papier et une matière plastique telle que polyéthylène, polypropylène, polyester, etc.,
• et/ou du papier (tel que papier thermocollant dans la masse et soudable) et un complexe papier thermoscellable,
• et/ou tous matériaux enduits sur une ou ses deux faces, de cire, de paraffine, de vernis ou de laque thermocollant.

The package 1 thus comprises at least one and, in the example shown, two so-called external heat-seal composite sheets 3 each constituting a sealed and thermal barrier. Each outer heat-sealable composite sheet 3 is constituted for example by:

• a composite comprising paper and a plastics material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, etc.,
• and / or paper (such as heat fusible and weldable paper) and a heat-sealable paper complex,
• and / or all materials coated on one or both sides with wax, paraffin, varnish or heat-sealing lacquer.

As shown schematically in FIG. 3, each outer heat sealable composite sheet 3 comprises an inner layer 3 ₁ consisting as described above.

According to another preferred embodiment, each outer composite sheet 3 comprises, on the face defining the outside of the package, an aluminum layer 3 ₂ covered, preferably, with a varnish for printing.

The package 1 also comprises two so-called internal heat-seal composite sheets 4 arranged between the two outer sheets 3. The two inner sheets 4 delimit between them a central pocket 5 intended to receive the product 2 while each inner sheet 4 delimits with an outer sheet 3 vis-à-vis, a side pocket 6 for receiving a means 8 for maintaining the perishable product 2 at its storage temperature. It should be noted that this means 8, adapted to maintain the perishable product at its storage temperature, is constituted either by a means of thermal insulation of the perishable product 2 with respect to the outside, or by an accumulator of frigories or calories according to the nature of the product 2 packaged. It must be considered that this means 8 thus prevents the perishable product 2 from losing its energy (heat or refrigeration) or provides additional energy (heat or cooling), so that the perishable product 2 can be maintained at an acceptable storage temperature. .

As is more particularly apparent from FIG. 2, the four sheets 3, 4 are, in the illustrated example, assembled together at their longitudinal edges by mechanical assembly, gluing or welding, for example. A transverse weld connecting the two longitudinal edges 9 is formed on a transverse edge 11 of the package which is thus in a ready-to-use position insofar as the central pocket 5 and the two side pockets 6 are open according to the invention. another opposite transverse edge 12 for giving access to the internal volume of the three pockets 5, 6.

The package 1 is thus ready to receive in the side pockets 6 a temperature holding means 8 and in the central pocket 5 the product 2 to be packaged. The package 1 is then closed by welding along its transverse edge 12. The package 1 thus has three pockets 5, 6 completely sealed together. The central pocket 5 contains the product 2 while on either side of the side pockets 6 can maintain the product 2 at a conservation temperature adapted to the packaged product. In the case of the packaging of fresh products, such as fish, the temperature keeping means 8 may be made by a cold accumulator, such as ice trapped with air in each side pocket 6. Each Side pocket 6 thus constitutes a thermal barrier vis-à-vis the outside to maintain the food product at a low temperature allowing the transport of the package with a suitable storage temperature.

Of course, it may be provided to use any accumulation materials of frigories or calories such as gels, loose or packaged ice or any type of materials or components creating calories or frigories. According to another characteristic of the invention, it can be provided to associate with the accumulator an absorbent material adapted to take account of the change of state of the accumulator associated with the modification of its temperature while maintaining it at a consistency substantially constant.

Likewise, the temperature-keeping means 8 can be produced by thermal insulation means, such as air or insulating materials in bulk or in plate. In the above description, the package 1 has two side pockets 6 extending on either side of the central pocket 5. Of course, the package may comprise a single side pocket 6, contiguous to the central pocket 5 .

The process for packaging a perishable product 2 is a direct result of the foregoing description.

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment using a package formed as a sheath cut from a sheath 1 packaged generally roll. In the illustrated example, this sheath carries four superposed sheets 3, 4 which are assembled along their longitudinal edges 9. This sheath is cut to the desired length to contain a food product 2, such as fish. Preferably, during the cutting of the sheath I to constitute the package 1, a transverse weld connecting the longitudinal edges is formed on the transverse edge 11 of the heat-sealable composite sheets 3, 4.

As is more particularly apparent from FIG. 2, the packaging 1 is thus in the form of a bag that can be opened by the transverse edge 12 giving access to the internal volume of the three pockets 5, 6. The food product 2 is placed in the central pocket 5 and temperature keeping means 8 is introduced into each side pocket 6. Of course, the temperature holding means 8 can be introduced into the side pockets 6 before or after the insertion of the product 2 in the central pocket 5. A weld is then carried out according to the fourth side of the pockets 5, 6, that is to say along the transverse edge 12, so as to constitute three pockets 5, 6 completely sealed against the outside. The pockets 5, 6 are thus closed simultaneously by a weld made along the fourth side.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the method for packaging a product 2 associated with means for maintaining it at a suitable temperature is a simple and easy operation to carry out. According to the embodiment described above, the user must simply from a roll of a sheath, cut a desired length to ensure the packaging of the product 2. Advantageously, the cutting of the package 1 is combined with the welding of the cut transverse edge of the sheath roll. The product 2 and the temperature keeping means 8 are then introduced into the pockets 5 and 6 respectively and these three pockets 5, 6 are closed simultaneously by a weld of the other transverse edge.

The package 1 thus contains, in addition to the product 2, a temperature holding means 8 extending, preferably, on either side of the product 2 to maintain it at its ideal temperature during transport. The composite sheets 3, 4, which are impervious, make it possible to obtain a package 1 comprising a central pocket 5 sealed with the side pockets 6 which themselves are sealed relative to the outside.

In the example described above, the sheath 1 comprises two pairs of composite sheets 3, 4 placed in superposed position one against the other and assembled along their two longitudinal edges 9. Of course, it can be envisaged to use, to form a pair, a single composite sheet without welding or gluing or with a single assembly line obtained by folding the sheet and welding, gluing or mechanically joining the free edges opposite the fold.

According to another variant embodiment, it should be noted that the package 1 according to the invention may consist of a sheath comprising a lateral pocket 6 constituted by an inner composite sheet 4 and an outer composite sheet 3. This sheath is folded along a transverse edge and assembled at least along the two longitudinal edges to form the central pocket 5 and the two side pockets 6. According to this embodiment, the package 1 is made from a sheath cut along a length substantially double the size of the product 2 to be packaged to the extent that the sheath is folded back on itself. It should be noted that a weld or glue line may or may not be made according to the fold line respectively for not making or communicating with each other the side pockets 6.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each internal composite sheet 4 comprises at least one inner layer 14 of a heat-sealable or heat-sealable material having an outer surface 14a together forming the inner surface of the central pocket 5, as is clear from FIG. fig. 2. Thus, each composite sheet 4 has a layer 14 of a heat-sealable material facing each other by their outer surface 14a, to heat-seal the two sheets 4 between them. Thus, since the inner layers of heat-sealable material 14 are against each other, the application of localized pressure between the sheets 4, for example at the transverse edges of the sheath, supplemented by localized heating makes it possible to get a weld of leaves between them.

It must therefore be understood that each internal composite sheet 4 comprises at least one layer of a heat-sealable material 14 which preferably is a plastic material. Advantageously, each layer of heat-sealable plastic material 14 is deposited on a layer of paper 15, preferably high mechanical strength. Preferably, each inner composite sheet 4 also comprises an outer layer 16 of a heat-sealable material covering the paper layer 15.

According to a preferred embodiment which will be described in the following description, the material constituting the inner layer 14 of heat-sealable plastic material and the outer layer 16 is a low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Of course, it may be provided to produce the inner 14 and outer 16 layers of heat-sealable material with a different material such as, for example, polypropylene, glue or heat-sealable wax, or a layer of heat-sealable material deposited by dispersion , sleeping or impregnation.

Also, as already described, each outer sheet 3 comprises an inner layer 3 ₁ of a heat sealable material, which may be different or identical to the material of the layer 14, 16 of the inner sheets 4.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the internal heat-sealable layers 14 delimiting the inner surface of the central pocket 5, and / or at least one or even the two outer layers 16 and the adjacent inner layer or layers 3 ₁ possess characteristics determined to allow easy opening of the central pocket 5 and / or one or both of the side pockets 6. Thus, the internal heat-sealable material layers 14 and / or external (s) 16 and internal (s) 3 ₁ each have a roughness according to the technique BENDTSEN DIN 53 108, less than or equal to 1200 milliliters per minute and according to an advantageous characteristic, between 800 and 1200 ml / min and more preferably of the order of 910 ml / min.

The roughness can be obtained on each heat-sealable layer 14 and / or 16 and 3 ₁ via, for example, a rough heavy cylinder, coming into contact with the outer surface of the heat-sealable layer. For example, the heat-sealable layer is a heat-sealable plastic layer made by extruding copolymers of the EAA type [(Ethylene-Acrylic-Acid) additives for LDPE] and all types of LDPE. All types of extrusion or coextrusion coating are included in the invention.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heat-sealable layers 14 and / or 16 ₁ and 3 have between them a coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.5 and preferably between 0.25 and 0.35 and, more preferably, of the order of 0.3 according to DIN 53 375.

Such a coefficient of friction can advantageously be obtained by extrusion or coextrusion of specific polymers (certain types of modified LDPE) and / or by the addition of at least one slip agent, such as, for example, the reference product. 252 CH sold under the trade name EXXON.

The combined use of heat sealable layers 14 and / or 16 and 3 _1, having a specific roughness associated with a friction coefficient determined ensures easy opening of each pocket 5, 6. Indeed, such a package 1 can be opened easily even by wet hands or equipped with gloves from its free edges by a simple movement of friction between the two sheets 4. Such easy opening is possible thanks to the present invention of "easy opening sheath" , and by a determination of friction, roughness, slippage for the heat-sealable layers 14 against each other. Similarly, in the case where the inner layer 3 ₁ one or both outer sheets 3 and the outer layer 16 adjacent to one or both inner sheets 4 have the specific roughness associated with a determined coefficient of friction, or the the side pockets 6 can be opened easily.

Claims (25)

1. - Conditioning method for perishable products (2) with a preservation temperature, using a heat sealable packaging (1) with two transverse edges (11, 12) and two longitudinal edges (9), characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

   • making a heat sealable packaging comprising a central compartment (5) bonded with at least one lateral compartment (6), the compartments (5, 6) being sealed on three of their sides such that the inner volume of the compartments may be accessible from a transverse edge (12),

   • placing a means (8) in each lateral compartment (6) for keeping the perishable product (2) at its preservation temperature,

   • putting the perishable product (2) inside the central compartment (5), and

   • sealing the transverse edge (12) of the compartments (5, 6) so as to simultaneously close the compartments (5, 6) so as to form a sealed packaging with a central compartment (5) sealed with respect to each lateral compartment.
2. - Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a heat sealable packaging is made which comprises two lateral compartments (6) extending on each side of the central compartment (5).
3. - Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it consists of placing a means for holding the temperature (8) in each lateral compartment (6), namely a cold or heat accumulator.
4. - Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it consists of placing a means in each lateral compartment (6) for holding the temperature (8), namely a thermal insulation means.
5. - Conditioning method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that it consists of making the heat sealable packaging (1) from a wrapping (I) comprising a central compartment (5) extending between two lateral compartments (6), cut out to an appropriate length to contain the perishable product (2) to be packaged, and assembled along a transverse edge such that the three compartments (5, 6) are accessible from the opposite transverse edge.
6. - Conditioning method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that it consists of making the heat sealable packaging (1) from a wrapping comprising a lateral compartment (6), folded along a transverse edge and assembled along at least the two longitudinal edges to form the central compartment (5) and the two lateral compartments (6).
7. - Conditioning method according to claim 6, characterised in that it consists of making the heat sealable packaging (1) from a wrapping cut to a length equal to approximately twice the size of the perishable product (2) to be packaged.
8. - Conditioning method according to claim 3, characterised in that it consists of placing ice inside the lateral compartments as a cold accumulator (8).
9. - Heat sealable packaging for perishable products (2) particularly food or similar, with two transverse edges (11, 12) and two longitudinal edges (9) characterised in that it comprises at least three superposed heat sealable composite sheets (3, 4), two inner sheets (4) being designed to delimit a sealed central compartment (5) between them in which the perishable product (2) will fit, an outer sheet (3) forming a leak tight and thermal barrier that will work with a first inner sheet (4) to form a lateral compartment (6) to contain a means (8) of holding the said perishable product (2) at its preservation temperature, the compartments (5, 6) being sealed on three of their sides such that the inner volume of the compartments may be accessible from a transverse edge (12),
10. - Heat sealable packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that it comprises a fourth superposed heat sealable composite sheet (3) called the outer sheet, forming a leak tight and thermal barrier that will work with the second inner sheet (4) to form a lateral compartment (6) to contain a means (8) of holding said perishable product (2) at its preservation temperature, such that there is a lateral compartment (6) on each side of the central compartment (5).
11. - Heat sealable packaging according to claim 10, characterised in that it is a wrapping (I) comprising a central compartment (5) extending between two lateral compartments (6).
12. - Heat sealable packaging according to claim 11, characterised in that it is a wrapping (I) assembled at its longitudinal edges (9) and cut out to a required length to contain the perishable product (2) to be packaged.
13. - Heat sealable packaging according to claim 12, characterised in that the wrapping (I) is sealed along a transverse edge (11) such that the three compartments (5, 6) are accessible from the opposite transverse edge (12).
14. - Heat sealable packaging according to claim 13, characterised in that the wrapping (I) is sealed along its second transverse edge (12) after the perishable product (2) has been inserted in the central compartment (5) and the means (8) for holding the temperature have been inserted in the lateral compartments (6).
15. - Heat sealable packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that it is a wrapping (I) comprising a lateral compartment folded along a transverse edge and assembled along the two longitudinal edges.
16. - Packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that each outer sheet (3) is made from a paper/plastic composite material.
17. - Packaging according to claim 16, characterised in that each outer sheet (3) comprises an outer aluminium layer (3₂).
18. - Packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that each composite inner sheet (4) comprises a heat sealable outer layer (16) and a paper layer (15) covered with a heat sealable layer (14) forming the inner surface of the central compartment (5).
19. - Packaging according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterised in that at least each heat sealable layer (14) forming the inner surface of the central compartment (5) has a DIN 53108 BENDTSEN roughness less than or equal to 1 200 ml/min and in that between them the heat sealable layers (14) have a coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.5, to enable easy opening of the central compartment (5).
20. - Packaging according to claim 18 or 19, characterised in that at least one of the outer layers (16) of the inner composite sheet (4) and one inner layer (3₁) of the adjacent outer sheet (3) have a DIN 53108 BENDTSEN roughness less than or equal to 1200 ml/min and in that between them the outer layer (16) and the inner layer (3₁) have a coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.5, to enable easy opening of the corresponding lateral compartment (6).
21. - Packaging according to claim 19 or 20, characterised in that each heat sealable layer (14), forming the inner surface of the central compartment (5), and/or the outer layer (16) of at least one inner composite sheet (4) and the inner layer (3₁) of the adjacent outer sheet (3) have a DIN 53108 BENDTSEN roughness between 800 and 1200 ml/min and preferably of the order of 910 ml/min.
22. - Packaging according to claim 21, characterised in that the heat sealable layers (14), forming the inner surface of the central compartment (5), and/or the outer layer (16) of at least one inner composite sheet (4) and the inner layer (3₁) of the adjacent outer sheet (3) have between them a coefficient of friction between 0.25 and 0.35, preferably of the order of 0.3.
23. - Packaging according to one of claims 9 to 22, characterised in that each heat sealable layer (14, 16, 3₁) is made by extrusion and/or coextrusion of polymers.
24. - Packaging according to claims 9 to 23, characterised in that each heat sealable layer (14, 16, 3₁) includes at least one friction reducing additive.
25. - Packaging according to one of claims 8 to 24, characterised in that each material from which the heat sealable layer (14, 16, 3₁) is made is a plastic material, and preferably a low density polyethylene.

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