EP1767458B1 - Method for preparing a moldable food item, preferably a dairy product, and the package for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The wrapping procedure, especially for a moulded dairy product (10) packaged in a container with a rigid or semi-rigid base (12) and cover, uses a sealing layer (42) in two separate sections (14, 14') joined together by seals (44, 44') and peeled off to gain access to the product. The two joined sections of the sealing layer, made from paper, aluminium and plastic, are used to line the mould in which the product is shaped before packaging in its container.

Description

The invention relates to a method for packaging a moldable food product, especially a dairy product, and a packaging for such a product.

The term "moldable food product" means products which have a liquid or viscous consistency when they are packaged in order to give them a shape by means of a mold, but which are likely to retain this shape under the normal conditions of preservation and drying. use after conditioning (i.e. after crystallization, cooling, gelling or similar phenomenon modifying the texture of the product).

This is particularly the case with butter and its derivatives or substitutes such as light butter, vegetable fats (margarine) or animal fats, as well as, in general, all dairy specialties (or other) to be spread and processed cheeses.

These various food products are often packaged in rigid trays, but there is another form of packaging, to which the present invention is particularly concerned, of presenting on a base a block of the product, molded and coated with a sheet dressing for protection. An outer bell-shaped shell covers the whole to ensure the protection of the product placed on the base, before the purchase and between two uses.

The product is generally molded in the form of a ball, that is to say a small rounded mass flattened on its underside, but this presentation is in no way limiting and other forms may be envisaged, for example a brick parallelepipedic shape.

The cover sheet, in addition to its protective role, also plays a role in the packaging of the product, the product being metered (poured into the mold) into the dressing sheet previously shaped to the desired final shape. In other words, the dressing sheet, which is arranged so as to line the bottom of the mold after having been shaped to the desired final shape, has the primary function of containing the product during the dosing, avoiding contact with that with the inner wall of the mold, and give the product its final shape after crystallization (in the example of butter) or cooling (in the example of a melted cheese).

So that the consumer can easily remove the sheet without touching the product, the Applicant has developed, and chose to implement, a few years ago a solution consisting in making the cover sheet in the form of two (or more) operculas each covering about half of the clod of the product, overlapping the central region. When he starts the product, after opening the outer bell the consumer can then easily remove one of the covers, then the other, to discover the product ball placed on its base.

This packaging technique, where a dressing sheet is used to contain the product during the assay, has been quite satisfactory with dairy products such as butter, which are relatively viscous and adherent under the conditions of the assay. The viscosity and the wettability (surface tension) of the product during the metering are indeed sufficient to prevent any leakage of the product where the two foil covers overlap, especially at the bottom of the mold (corresponding to the top of the motte after retouement).

On the other hand, with products having a liquid or semi-viscous consistency under the conditions of the determination, this technique is not applicable because, due to the lower viscosity and / or the higher surface tension of the product, a risk of leakage of the latter between the two covers in the area where these covers overlap.

Such a risk of leakage is not acceptable because it has serious disadvantages.

First of all, at the time of conditioning, it introduces a risk of contamination of the bottom of the mold by the product whereas, precisely, the interposition of the covering sheet makes it possible to avoid any contact of the product with the inner surface of the product. mold.

Moreover, if leaks occur, after conditioning the outer surface, apparent, of the dressing sheet will show traces of product. While this type of packaging is generally intended for quality products, it will result in a poor presentation, with a bold touch for the consumer at the time when it starts the product by separating the covers. Finally, the product that has leaked will be in contact with the ambient air, with risk of degradation by oxidation resulting in rancidity, contaminations and mold formation, which must be absolutely excluded.

For these reasons, the packaging in the form of a clump with a dressing sheet which gives the product its shape is generally reserved for butter, the other products mentioned above (light butters, margarines, etc.) being packaged in rigid containers, which do not have the aforementioned drawback.

The tray is however a more ordinary type of packaging, little used for high-end products, and it is less convenient and attractive to the consumer than a presentation in the form of a ball placed on a base.

There is therefore a need for a method and a packaging for packaging a very large variety of mold-shaped dairy products (or other forms) in a dressing sheet, to allow their presentation on a rigid base that can be closed by a protective bell.

We know by EP-A-0 099 304 a process for soft cheese where the cheese is wrapped with aluminum foil and placed in a package formed of a flat base closed by a removable lid corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 and a package corresponding to the preamble of claim 5 The aluminum sheet is provided with tear strips arranged in a cross and heat-sealed to the base, the assembly being designed in such a way that, at the first opening, the consumer comes to pull the free ends of the strips, tearing the aluminum foil in several petals to bring out the cheese.

The use of a continuous sheet of aluminum combined with a particular geometry of associated tear strips, certainly provides a seamless seal when measuring the processed cheese. But it is inconvenient to use for the user, and requires additional steps difficult to implement at the time of preparation of the aluminum foil.

The invention proposes a packaging method and a packaging of the type explained above which solves these disadvantages, while eliminating any risk of leakage to the outside of the sheet at the time of the assay with products which, under the conditions of the assay, have a liquid or semi-viscous consistency.

The invention is however not limited to this category of product. It is also applicable, a fortiori, to products of less soft consistency, for example butters, especially for reasons of rationalization of the production and packaging lines, by accelerating production rates and reducing manufacturing incidents.

The invention relates, as indicated above, to a method for packaging a moldable food product, in particular a dairy product, in a package of the type taught by the EP-A-0 099 304 , that is to say comprising: a rigid or semi-rigid base adapted to support a block of the product: a covering sheet of conformable material, in contact with the product so as to cover the surface of the block which does not is not in contact with the pedestal; and an outer bell forming with the base a closed volume containing the product block, bell and base comprising cooperating closure means.

The method of the invention is of the known type comprising the steps of: recessing the sheet into a die; pouring into the sheet thus shaped a mass of the product in liquid or semi-viscous form: place the base on the product thus cast; return pedestal and product and separate them from the matrix; and apply the bell to the base to close the assembly.

In a characteristic manner of the invention, the sheet is defined from at least two adjacent separate caps, and it is expected, before the sheet forming step, a prior stage of preparation of the sheet comprising an overlap of respective edges of the separate lids, and a seal in the region of their covering, this seal being able to ensure between these lids a seal to the product when it is in liquid or semi-viscous form, and to allow subsequent dissociation, by a consumer, attached integral opercules, by peeling or breaking of the sealing region.

The seal is preferably a "leather on flesh" seal, that is to say a seal of a reverse side of one of the covers on a front face of the adjacent lid, including an ultrasonic seal. The sealing may in particular be operated with jaws comprising a sealing iron whose pressure surface is notched at the sealing area, combined with a flat counter-iron.

The invention also relates to a packaging for a moldable food product, especially a dairy product, adapted to have the above characteristics.

Advantageously, the cooperating closing means of the bell and the base comprise, for one, a plurality of holding pins and, for the other, a cooperating discontinuous peripheral gutter, the separation of the bell and the base being obtained by a relative rotation of a fraction of a turn, with on the base and the bell facing surfaces comprising at least one frangible sealing point.

An embodiment of the device of the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings in which the same reference numerals designate identical elements from one figure to another.

The figure 1 is a sectional view of the product packaged in its packaging, showing the various constituent elements of the latter.

The Figures 2a and 2b are details showing the closing and locking system of the outer bell on the base, respectively in the locked and deven-waved position.

The figure 3 is a detail, corresponding to line III - III of the figure 1 , showing the frangible sealing point of the bell on the base.

The figure 4 illustrates how the consumer starts the product by separating the two lids.

The figure 5 illustrates the way in which the lids are secured.

The figure 6 illustrates the various steps of the packaging process of the invention.

On the figure 1 , reference numeral 10 designates a clump-shaped mass of a soft-textured product, for example a lightened butter, molded in the form of a ball placed on a rigid flat base 12 made of plastic.

The product 10 is protected externally, on its surface which is not in contact with the base 12, by a covering sheet consisting of two separable lids 14, 14 '. The whole is closed by a rigid bell 16. The base 12 has a flat bottom face 18 for placing it on a flat surface, in the shelf or at the consumer.

The bell 16 comprises means for closing and locking the base which will be described in more detail, with particular reference to Figures 2a and 2b .

The base 12 carries a plurality of lugs 20, for example three in number, having a first portion 24 directed radially inwards, extended by a portion 26 extending vertically downwards. The bell 16, meanwhile, has a peripheral gutter terminated by a flange 22 extending vertically upwards, below the first portion 24 of the lug 20. This rim 22 is discontinuous and ends with a return 28 directed radially inwards, capable of abutting against the second portion 26 of the lug 20.

In locked position, illustrated figure 2a , each of the lugs 20 extends above the peripheral rim 22 and thus prevents the withdrawal of the bell 16.

To open the package, the user rotates the bell 16 relative to the base 12 (rotation indicated by the arrow 30), which has the effect of bringing these two elements in the illustrated position figure 2b .

Each of the lugs 22 will then be facing an interval 32 interrupting the peripheral rim 22, as well as a notch 34 formed at this point of the bell 16. The latter, which is no longer retained by the lugs 20 , will then be able to be freely raised and separated from the base 12.

The opposite operation is done by replacing the bell in the same position and by printing a rotational movement (arrow 36) to return to the illustrated locking position figure 2a .

Advantageously, there is provided between the bell 16 and the base 12 several sealing points 40 ( Figure 2a and Figure 3 ), for example ultrasonic sealing.

This seal 40 is a frangible seal under the effect of a rotation of the bell 16 relative to the base 12, at the time of the first use.

A primary role played by this sealing point is that of a burglary witness, which allows the consumer to have the assurance that his product was not opened before the purchase. The breaking point of the sealing point can in particular be done with a characteristic noise of slamming.

The strength of solidarity by sealing is chosen so as to present a compromise between, on the one hand, a good security of the closure and, on the other hand, easy opening by all potential consumers (children, elderly).

The figure 4 illustrates the manipulation to be done by the consumer when he wants to tamper with the product. After removing the bell, it is sufficient for him to separate the two lids 14, 14 'of the dressing sheet, thus discovering the clod of product 10.

In a manner characteristic of the invention, the two lids 14, 14 'are integral in the region 42 where they overlap, so as to avoid any leakage of the product at the time of packaging, as will be explained below with reference to FIG. figure 8.

For this purpose, the method of the invention provides for a prior preparation of the dressing sheet before shaping it for the molding of the product.

The covers 14, 14 'are advantageously secured in the illustrated manner figure 5 the two lids 14, 14 'are lids that are initially distinct, pre-cut or in the form of in-line cut coils, two respective edges 44, 44' of which are overlapped in the overlap region 42. A sealing operation is then carried out in this region. region, in 46, sealing which can be for example an ultrasonic seal (or a thermal seal).

Sealing is preferably a seal of a back side of the edge of one of the covers on a front face of the edge of the other seal, that is to say a seal of the type "leather-flesh".

• vernis (laque) et/ou encre d'impression,
• aluminium,
• polyéthylène,
• papier,
• polyéthylène + enduction sorbate.

It is particularly possible to use as a packaging sheet a complex comprising the following successive layers, structure commonly used in this type of application:

• varnish (lacquer) and / or printing ink,
• aluminum,
• polyethylene,
• paper,
• polyethylene + sorbate coating.

The resulting weld achieves an adhesion between two materials which a priori have no sealing property with respect to one another (the layer of polyethylene coated with sorbate not being compatible with the varnish and / or the ink in the case of a "leather-flesh" weld.

The welding is performed ultrasonically, advantageously using a particular jaw profile comprising a sealing iron whose pressure surface is notched at the sealing area (regular reliefs of a few fractions of a millimeter in height), combined with a flat counter iron.

The adhesion obtained is weak, but it is sufficient to prevent product leakage during molding, and it allows easy separation (due to the low adhesion strength) of the two parts, by peelability.

The mechanical strength of the weld does not need to be high (on the contrary, it prevents easy separation of the lids by the consumer); it is here sufficient to achieve the desired goal, which is to provide a leakage barrier during molding, which does not require high mechanical strength.

The figure 6 illustrates the different successive steps a to g of the process of the invention.

The first step consists in preparing the packing sheet so as to define the two lids 14, 14 'integral with but separable, according to the technique which has just been described.

The next step b is to fold and stamp this sheet, which was initially flat, to the shape chosen for the packaging of the product, for example the rounded shape of a clod. The sheet 14, 14 'is for this purpose plated in a socket-shaped recess 60 by means of a male stamping piston 62.

The result is that illustrated in step c , where the cladding sheet, shaped by folding and stamping, and composed of the two sealed parts 14, 14 ', fully lines the inside of the shape footprint 60, so as to constitute a mold capable of receiving the product to be packaged.

The next step consists, in a metering position, supplying by means of a metering hopper 64 the required amount of product in the sheet pressed watertight coating 14, 14 '(the product 10). At this stage, the product is in liquid or semi-viscous form to allow the assay.

The next step e, once the desired amount of product 10 poured into the mold to a dosing station, to be transferred all at a laying station from the base. The laying of the base occurs just after dosing the product without waiting for the hardening of the latter (by crystallization, cooling, etc.) of the latter, by applying on the base 12 a pressure force 66 which flatten the dose of the product 10 to perfect the shape of the latter, as defined by the footprint 60 and the base 12.

It is precisely at this stage of the process that, if the two lids 14, 14 'were not secured, there would be a risk of leakage at the junction between these two lids, at the bottom of the footprint 60, this risk being accentuated by the pressure to which the dose of product is subjected for the flattening of its face in contact with the base.

The next step f is to return it so that the product mass 10 comes to rest on the base 12, and to withdraw the footprint shape 60.

In the final step g , the bell 16 is placed on the base 12, with the rotational movement required to lock in place the bell 16 on the base 12, and if necessary, formation between these two elements of a tamper-evident tamper-evident seal, as explained above with reference to the figure 3 .

Claims (8)

1. A method for packaging a mouldable food product, in particular a dairy product, in a package of the type comprising: a rigid or semi-rigid base (12) adapted to support a piece of said product (10); a wrapping sheet of a formable material, in contact with the product so as to cover the surface of the piece which is not in contact with the base; and an outer lid (16) forming with the base a closed volume containing the piece of product, the lid and the base including co-operating closing means (20, 22), said method including the steps of:

   - forming the sheet with a hollow shape in a die (60),

   - pouring in the sheet thus formed a mass of the product (10) in liquid or semi-viscous form,

   - placing the base (12) on the product thus poured,

   - turning upside down the base and the product and separating them from the die, and

   - applying the lid (16) on the base in order to close the whole, said method being characterised in that:

   - said sheet is defined from at least two different, adjoining seals (14, 14'), and

   - before the steps of forming the sheet is provided a preliminary step of preparing the sheet, including overlapping the respective edges (44, 44') of said different seals (14, 14') and bonding (46) them in the region where the latter overlap, said bonding being adapted to ensure imperviousness to the product between said seals when the former is in liquid or semi-viscous form, and to enable at a later time a separation, by a consumer, of the adjoining seals stuck together, by peeling or breaking the bonding region (46).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said bonding is a bonding of a frontside of one of the seals to a reverse side of the adjoining seal.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said bonding is an ultrasonic bonding.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said bonding is performed by means of jaws including a sealing stamp which pressure surface is corrugated in the area of the bonding zone, combined with a opposing stamp.
5. A package for a mouldable food product, in particular a dairy product, comprising:

   - a rigid or semi-rigid base (12) adapted to support a piece of the product,

   - a wrapping sheet of a formable material, in contact with the product so as to cover the surface of the piece which is not in contact with the base,

   - an outer lid (16) forming with the base a closed volume containing the piece of product, the lid and the base including co-operating closing means (20, 22),

   said package being characterised in that:

   - said sheet is defined from at least two different, adjoining seals (14, 14') which respective edges (44, 44') overlap, and

   - said different, adjoining seals (14, 14') are seals stuck together, in the in the region (42) where the latter overlap, by a bonding adapted to ensure imperviousness to the product between said seals when the former is in liquid or semi-viscous form, and to enable at a later time a separation, by a consumer, of the adjoining seals stuck together, by peeling or breaking the bonding region (46).
6. The package of claim 5, wherein said bonding (46) is a bonding of a frontside of one of the seals to a reverse side of the adjoining seal.
7. The package of claim 5, wherein said bonding (46) is an ultrasonic bonding.
8. The package of claim 5, wherein:

   - said co-operating closing means of the base and of the lid include, for one of them, a plurality of retaining lugs (20) and, for the other one, a co-operating discontinuous, peripheral groove (22), the separation of the base and of the lid resulting from a relative rotation of a fraction of a turn, and

   - the base and the lid have facing surfaces including at least on frangible sealing dot (40).

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