EP2041002B1 - Device for packaging a food product, such as a cheese, and method of manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging a food product, such as an individual portion of cheese, and a method of manufacturing the packaging device.

It is known to package individual portions of cheese in packages which are of the type with a hollow shell closed by a lid and which contain a portion of cheese mounted integral with a stick. We can for example quote the cheese portions marketed by the Applicant under the name "Kidiboo". This rod, which forms a gripping means for the consumption of the portion of cheese after opening of the lid, is fully housed inside the package.

It is also known to package these portions in packages with two hollow hulls which are sealed to each other via their respective peripheral rims and which enclose the portion of cheese. For example, the document WO-A-00/21855 for the description of such packaging, which teaches to use an opening tab integral with the inner face of the wall of the package, as well as the portions marketed under the name "Milkana" by the Applicant, which are each mounted together a gripping stick integrally housed inside the package.

The document GB-A-533,502 also describes a device for packaging a food product according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as a manufacturing method according to the preamble of claim 12.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for packaging a food product, such as an individual portion of cheese, according to claim 1.

For this purpose, a packaging device according to the invention is such that said gripping means has a rigid structure adhering to said product and a substantially flat geometry, said tabs being sealed on the respective two faces of said gripping means, without penalizing its sealing neither its ease of opening ("peelability").

Note that mounting said gripping means through the wall of said cavity allows easy handling of the packaging device before opening for consumption.

It will also be noted that this crossing arrangement of the gripping means, combined with the sealing of the opening tabs on the latter, makes it possible to easily open the device by detaching these two "peelable" tabs from one another, advantageously by exerting with one hand pulling on one of the legs opposite the other while keeping in place with the other hand the gripping means.

It should further be noted that this gripping means, which protrudes from said opening tabs, gives the conditioning device thus obtained a playful character for the children, in particular because said gripping means can have various shapes, patterns and / or colors coming from complement those containers containing the conditioned portion (the gripping means can thus have two faces identical or different patterns).

Advantageously, said gripping means has an outer zone which extends beyond said tabs over a length which may be equal to or greater than 5 mm and preferably equal to or greater than 10 mm, so that said zone can be grasped. exterior.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said gripping means has an inner zone integral with said product which presents at least one through orifice, so as to maximize adhesion of said product to both sides of said gripping means, and which preferably has a plurality of oblong through-holes which extend both in the width direction and the length of said gripping means.

In this way, it is advantageously obtained adhesion or cohesion of the cheese both on itself and on the gripping means which is improved, by filling these openings with said product.

Preferably, said gripping means has a thickness of between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.

It will be noted that this sealing of said opening tabs on said gripping means makes it possible to preserve said product in a perfectly sealed manner before it is opened and also to assure the consumers of its integrity, because any opening of the containers via these tabs is irreversible and is therefore reported to consumers by their loosening.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said containers may have a flexible structure adapted to allow the separation of said flanges and the same geometry which is for example substantially cup-shaped.

Advantageously, said containers may be adapted to remain articulated on one another in an area of said flanges which is opposite to that corresponding to said tabs, after opening said device by separating said flanges.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said containers are formed by blowing two plastic films each of which advantageously has an average thickness of between 40 μm and 400 μm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said gripping means may be based on polypropylene, said containers may consist of multilayer films comprising at least three layers respectively based on oriented polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and polypropylene.

Optionally, said containers may further comprise an additional barrier layer for example oxygen based on a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, and / or light.

It will be noted that one and / or the other of said containers may advantageously be decorated by appropriate printing means, advantageously by gravure, and covered with a varnish which may be of matte or glossy type, which further improves their presentation. and their attraction to children.

1. a) formage par soufflage de deux films en matière plastique présentant des creux complémentaires destinés à former lesdits containers,
2. b) scellage des deux films complémentaires ainsi formés, entre lesquels sont ménagés, pour chaque paire de containers en vis-à-vis, une fente destinée à permettre l'insertion dudit moyen de préhension et un col de remplissage destiné à permettre le remplissage de ladite cavité,
3. c) thermoscellage au contact desdites pattes dudit moyen de préhension inséré dans ladite cavité,
4. d) remplissage via ledit col de chaque dispositif de conditionnement ainsi obtenu par ledit produit, tel qu'un fromage,
5. e) soudage des bords dudit col pour chaque dispositif, et
6. f) découpe des films ainsi obtenus pour l'obtention des dispositifs individuels.

A manufacturing method according to the invention of the conditioning device as defined above comprises the following successive steps:

1. a) blow-molding two plastic films having complementary recesses for forming said containers,
2. b) sealing of the two complementary films thus formed, between which are provided, for each pair of containers facing each other, a slot intended to allow the insertion of said gripping means and a filling neck intended to allow the filling of said cavity,
3. c) heat sealing in contact with said tabs of said gripping means inserted in said cavity,
4. d) filling via said neck of each packaging device thus obtained by said product, such as a cheese,
5. e) welding the edges of said neck for each device, and
6. f) cutting films thus obtained to obtain the individual devices.

It should be noted that this manufacturing method according to the invention can advantageously be implemented continuously in an automated installation, by forming on sheets opposite a multitude of recessed impression pairs which are intended for to form as many pairs of sealed containers together.

• la figure 1 est une vue latérale d'un dispositif de conditionnement selon l'invention dans une position de fermeture,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de conditionnement de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est vue partielle de dessus et en perspective montrant l'insertion d'un moyen de préhension du produit à conditionner, dans une empreinte d'un film destiné à former l'un des containers de ce dispositif,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de ce moyen de préhension disposé sur un container obtenu à partir du film de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective et dans une position d'ouverture du dispositif de conditionnement selon les figures 1 et 2, et
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus d'une feuille en matière plastique présentant une pluralité d'empreintes destinées à former autant de containers pour ledit dispositif.

Other features, advantages and details of the present invention will be apparent from reading the following description of several embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting illustration, said description being made with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which:

• the figure 1 is a side view of a packaging device according to the invention in a closed position,
• the figure 2 is a top view of the packaging device of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a partial view from above and in perspective showing the insertion of a gripping means of the product to be packaged, in a print of a film intended to form one of the containers of this device,
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of this gripping means disposed on a container obtained from the film of the figure 3 ,
• the figure 5 is a perspective view and in an open position of the packaging device according to the Figures 1 and 2 , and
• the figure 6 is a top view of a plastic sheet having a plurality of indentations for forming as many containers for said device.

• deux containers 2 et 3 de type coques souples qui sont scellés l'un sur l'autre en deux rebords périphériques respectifs 2a et 3a qu'ils présentent de sorte à délimiter ensemble une cavité fermée recevant une portion individuelle 4 de fromage (visible seulement à la figure 5), et
• un moyen de préhension 5 de cette portion 4 qui est monté solidaire de cette dernière par une zone intérieure 5a qu'il comporte, et qui traverse la paroi 6 de cette cavité, ce moyen de préhension 5 étant formé d'une tige rigide ou bâtonnet relativement large et d'un seul tenant.

The conditioning device 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 essentially comprises:

• two containers 2 and 3 of flexible shells type which are sealed one on the other in two respective peripheral edges 2a and 3a that they present so as to delimit together a closed cavity receiving an individual portion 4 of cheese (visible only to the figure 5 ), and
• a gripping means 5 of this portion 4 which is mounted integral with the latter by an inner zone 5a that it comprises, and which passes through the wall 6 of this cavity, this gripping means 5 being formed of a rigid rod or rod relatively wide and in one piece.

In this embodiment, the containers 2 and 3 both have the same cup shape whose flanges 2a and 3a form circular flanges. It will be noted however that the containers 2 and 3 according to the invention and their respective flanges 2a and 3a could have other geometries.

More specifically, the flanges 2a and 3a extend respectively outwardly of the containers 2 and 3 by two identical and opposite opening tabs 2b and 3b which are mutually "peelable" (ie able to be detached from one another). other by traction) and which are sealed on the respective faces of the gripping means 5, to open the device 1 via a separation of the flanges 2a and 3a. As is particularly visible in the figure 2 , the gripping means 5 is extended beyond the tabs 2b and 3b by an outer zone 5b in the manner of a tongue whose width at its free outer end is substantially equal to that of each opening tab 2b, 3b.

In the example of the figure 2 each tab 2b, 3b extends the rim 2a, 3a of the corresponding container 2, 3 in a generally rectangular shape.

The containers 2 and 3 sealed one on the other by these flanges 2a and 3a are furthermore designed to form a hinge 7 in a zone diametrically opposed to that of the lugs 2b and 3b, during the opening of the device 1 ( see figure 5 ).

Preferably, the containers 2 and 3 are based on a multilayer plastic "peelable" film which has an average thickness of between 40 μm and 400 μm and which comprises three layers respectively consisting of oriented polyethylene terephthalate ("OPET"). abbreviated form), polystyrene and polypropylene and, optionally, an additional layer of barrier for example oxygen consisting of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol ("EVOH" abbreviated).

As for the gripping means 5, it preferably has a thickness of between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, and is made of polypropylene, advantageously colored. This gripping means 5 is furthermore devoid of any cutting part for the consumer, and it is essentially designed, on the one hand, to have a high resistance to breaks or tears, in particular in its outer zone 5b and, on the other hand, on the other hand, to present a maximized adhesion to the portion of cheese 4 via oblong holes or lights 5c, 5d, 5e that it has in its inner zone 5a (see Figures 3 and 4 ).

As illustrated in the embodiment example of Figures 3 and 4 , the inner zone 5a of the gripping means 5 may comprise a flat head which is provided with two eyes and a mouth as orifices 5c and 5d more or less oblong, and which is connected to the rest of the gripping means 5 by a kind of neck 5e also openwork on its width.

The figure 5 illustrates the opening of the device 1 which is consecutive to the mutual loosening of the two opening tabs 2b and 3b. For this purpose, the consumer advantageously grasps with one hand the outer zone 5b of the gripping means 5 between the thumb and the index and then while pressing on a determined face of this outer zone 5b and thus on the leg 3b which is sealed on the other side of the gripping means 5 (exerting a downward force in the direction of the arrow A), exerts with its other hand a pull on the other leg 2b (pulling upwards in the direction of the arrow B), which has the effect of detaching the leg 2b thus pulled from the tab 3b held down and then detach the edges 2a and 3a between them, articulation 7 except.

The consumer then detaches the tab 3b gripping means 5 to separate the latter and the portion 4 which is secured to the container 3, for the consumption of the portion 4 in the manner of an ice cream type "eskimo" .

1. a) formage par soufflage de deux films 8a et 8b en matière plastique présentant des creux complémentaires 9 destinés à former les containers 2 et 3, comme illustré à la figure 6 (ces deux films 8a et 8b sont séparés l'un de l'autre en une ligne 8c de découpe),
2. b) scellage des deux films 8a et 8b complémentaires ainsi formés, entre lesquels sont ménagés, pour chaque paire de containers 2 et 3 en vis-à-vis, une fente (non visible) destinée à permettre l'insertion du moyen de préhension 5 et un col de remplissage 10 (voir figure 3) destiné à permettre le remplissage des deux containers 2 et 3,
3. c) préchauffage puis thermoscellage, au contact des pattes 2b et 3b, du moyen de préhension 5 inséré entre chaque paire de containers 2 et 3 (ce préchauffage du moyen de préhension 5 permet de porter ce dernier à une température appropriée pour son scellage sur les deux pattes 2b et 3b),
4. d) remplissage via ce col 10 de chaque dispositif de conditionnement 1 ainsi obtenu par la portion 4,
5. e) préchauffage puis soudage des bords du col 10 de chaque dispositif 1, et
6. f) découpe des films 8a et 8b ainsi obtenus pour l'obtention des dispositifs 1 individuels.

To manufacture this conditioning device 1 according to the invention, the following main steps are essentially implemented:

1. a) blow molding of two plastic films 8a and 8b having complementary recesses 9 for forming the containers 2 and 3, as illustrated in FIG. figure 6 (These two films 8a and 8b are separated from one another in a cutting line 8c),
2. b) sealing of the two complementary films 8a and 8b thus formed, between which are provided, for each pair of containers 2 and 3 in facing relation, a slot (not visible) intended to allow the insertion of the gripping means 5 and a filling neck 10 (see FIG. figure 3 ) intended to allow the filling of the two containers 2 and 3,
3. c) preheating then heat-sealing, in contact with the tabs 2b and 3b, the gripping means 5 inserted between each pair of containers 2 and 3 (this preheating of the gripping means 5 makes it possible to bring the latter to a temperature suitable for its sealing on the two legs 2b and 3b),
4. d) filling via this neck 10 of each conditioning device 1 thus obtained by the portion 4,
5. e) preheating and then welding the edges of the neck 10 of each device 1, and
6. f) cutting films 8a and 8b thus obtained to obtain the individual devices 1.

• essais d'étanchéité : on a plongé ces dispositifs 1 dans des solutions liquides, qui ont montré que le scellage obtenu entre les rebords 2a et 3a de ces containers 2 et 3 empêche efficacement toute fuite de fromage et toute pénétration de solution entre ces containers 2 et 3 ;
• essais de « pelabilité » : on a mesuré la force de traction nécessaire au détachement mutuel des pattes d'ouverture 2b et 3b (force mesurée au moyen de deux mors saisissant respectivement ces pattes 2b et 3b), qui ont montré que cette force était comprise entre 6 N et 10 N, ce qui représente une soudure entre les pattes 2b et 3b de force suffisante pour assurer son étanchéité, mais point trop élevée pour qu'un enfant puisse ouvrir le dispositif 1 sans effort excessif et sans le détériorer ;
• essais de résistance à la compression verticale : on a placé les fonds respectifs des containers 2 et 3 du dispositif 1 entre deux plateaux mobiles d'un appareil de traction/ compression que l'on a rapprochés mutuellement (en mode compression) à vitesse constante jusqu'à éclatement du dispositif 1, et l'on a ainsi mesuré la force maximale de compression avant éclatement qui a montré que ce dispositif 1 est suffisamment résistant, en prévision des contraintes inhérentes aux opération de stockage et de manutention.

The devices 1 thus manufactured were tested for leaktightness, "peelability" and vertical compressive strength, as summarized below:

• leak tests: these devices were immersed 1 in liquid solutions, which showed that the seal obtained between the edges 2a and 3a of these containers 2 and 3 effectively prevents any leakage of cheese and any penetration of solution between these containers 2 and 3;
• "peelability" tests: the tensile force necessary for the mutual detachment of the opening tabs 2b and 3b (force measured by means of two jaws grasping respectively these tabs 2b and 3b respectively), which showed that this force was included, was measured between 6 N and 10 N, which represents a weld between the legs 2b and 3b of sufficient force to seal, but not too high for a child to open the device 1 without excessive effort and without damaging it;
• vertical compressive strength tests: the respective bottoms of the containers 2 and 3 of the device 1 were placed between two moving plates of a traction / compression apparatus which were brought together (in compression mode) at constant speed until 'bursting of the device 1, and it was thus measured the maximum compressive force before burst which has shown that the device 1 is sufficiently strong, in anticipation of the constraints inherent in the storage and handling operations.

Claims (12)

1. A device (1) for packaging a food product (4), such as an individual portion of cheese, comprising two containers (2 and 3) which are sealed together at two respective peripheral rims (2a and 3a) that these containers have so as to together define a wall (6) of a closed cavity that contains said product, said rims extending respectively toward the outside of said containers via two opening tabs (2b and 3b) that face one another and are capable of being detached from one another by pulling in order to open said device by detaching said rims, said device comprising, in addition, a means (5) for gripping said product that is securely mounted to the latter inside said cavity, said gripping means passing through said cavity wall by extending beyond said tabs, which are sealed onto said gripping means, said gripping means having a rigid structure that adheres to said product, characterized in that said gripping means has a substantially planar geometry, said tabs being sealed onto the two respective faces of said gripping means.
2. The packaging device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said gripping means (5) has an outer zone (5b) that extends beyond said tabs (2b and 3b) over a length greater than or equal to 5 mm, so as to be able to grasp said outer zone.
3. The packaging device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said gripping means (5) has an inner zone (5a) attached to said product (4) that has at least one through hole (5c, 5d, 5e), so as to maximize the adhesion of said product to the two faces of said gripping means.
4. The packaging device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said inner zone (5a) has a plurality of through holes (5c, 5d, 5e) of oblong type that extend both in the direction of the width and of the length of said gripping means (5).
5. The packaging device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containers (2 and 3) have a flexible structure suitable for allowing the detachment of said rims (2a and 3a) and one and the same geometry which is substantially dishshaped.
6. The packaging device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containers (2 and 3) are adapted to remain articulated to one another in one zone (7) of said rims (2a and 3a) that is opposite to the zone corresponding to said tabs (2b and 3b), after opening said device by detaching said rims.
7. The packaging device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containers (2 and 3) are formed by blow molding two plastic films (8a and 8b).
8. The packaging device (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said films (8a and 8b) each have an average thickness between 40 µm and 400 µm.
9. The packaging device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gripping means (5) has a thickness between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.
10. The packaging device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gripping means (5) is based on polypropylene, and in that said containers (2 and 3) are composed of a multilayer film comprising at least three layers respectively based on oriented polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and polypropylene.
11. The packaging device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containers (2 and 3) comprise, in addition, a barrier layer, for example that is a barrier to oxygen, based on an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer.
12. A method for manufacturing a packaging device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following successive steps:

    a) forming, by blow molding, two plastic films (8a and 8b) that have complementary hollows (9) intended to form said containers (2 and 3);

    b) sealing the two complementary films thus formed, inserted between which are, for each pair of containers (2 and 3) facing each other, a slit intended to allow the insertion of said gripping means (5) and a filling neck (10) intended to allow the filling of said cavity;

    c) heat sealing in contact with said tabs (2b and 3b) of said gripping means (5) inserted into said cavity;

    d) filling, via said neck of each packaging device thus obtained, with said product (4), such as a cheese;

    e) welding of the edges of said neck (10) for each device; and

    f) cutting the films thus obtained to obtain individual devices.

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