EP2459448B1 - Vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support - Google Patents

Vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2459448B1
EP2459448B1 EP10737061.1A EP10737061A EP2459448B1 EP 2459448 B1 EP2459448 B1 EP 2459448B1 EP 10737061 A EP10737061 A EP 10737061A EP 2459448 B1 EP2459448 B1 EP 2459448B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
film
support
film sheet
transfer plate
sheet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP10737061.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2459448A1 (en
Inventor
Riccardo Palumbo
Jvanohe Rizzi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cryovac LLC
Original Assignee
Cryovac LLC
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Publication date
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Priority to EP10737061.1A priority Critical patent/EP2459448B1/en
Publication of EP2459448A1 publication Critical patent/EP2459448A1/en
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Publication of EP2459448B1 publication Critical patent/EP2459448B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
    • B65B11/52—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins one sheet being rendered plastic, e.g. by heating, and forced by fluid pressure, e.g. vacuum, into engagement with the other sheet and contents, e.g. skin-, blister-, or bubble- packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
    • B65B41/02—Feeding sheets or wrapper blanks
    • B65B41/04—Feeding sheets or wrapper blanks by grippers
    • B65B41/06—Feeding sheets or wrapper blanks by grippers by suction-operated grippers

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to vacuum skin packaging of products.
  • the present invention relates to a machine and a method for vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support.
  • Vacuum packaging is a well known process for packaging a wide variety of products, in particular food products.
  • vacuum skin packaging is commonly employed for packaging food products such as fresh and frozen meat and fish, cheese, processed meat, ready meals and the like.
  • Vacuum skin packaging is described for instance in FR 1 258 357 , FR 1 286 018 , AU 3 491 504 , US RE 30 009 , US 3 574 642 , US 3 681 092 , US 3 713 849 , US 4 055 672 , and US 5 346 735 .
  • Vacuum skin packaging is basically a thermoforming process.
  • the product is typically placed on a rigid or semi-rigid support (such as a tray, a bowl or a cup).
  • the support with the product placed thereon is put in a vacuum chamber, where a film of thermoplastic material, held by vacuum in a position above the product placed on the support, is heated to soften it.
  • the space between the support and the film is then evacuated and finally vacuum above the film is released to cause the film to drape down all around the product and seal to the surface of the support not covered by the product, thus forming a tight skin around the product and on the support.
  • US 2007/0022717 discloses a machine for gastight packaging an object using a film material.
  • the machine has a lower tool for supporting two trays and an upper tool having cutting devices and facing the lower tool.
  • a film is interposed between the upper tool and the lower tool.
  • the film is firstly cut to the size of the peripheral rims of the trays, and is applied subsequently and/or simultaneously to the peripheral rim in a gastight manner.
  • a vacuum is situated in the surrounding region of the tray to cause deep-drawing of the film in response to the formation of a pressure drop.
  • US 2005/0257501 discloses a machine for packaging a product arranged in a tray.
  • the machine has a lower tool for supporting the tray and an upper tool with a cutting device.
  • the film is clamped along an edge surrounding the tray and is deformed by the upper tool in a direction extending away the product.
  • the space surrounding the product is then evacuated, the film and the edge of the tray are sealed and the film is then cut by the cutting device.
  • US 3481101 discloses a method for making skin packages using a support provided with a plurality of apertures in a lip thereof. According to this method, after the tray is filled, a heated cover film is draped upon the tray and vacuum is applied so that the air within the package is drawn from the package and the film is drawn into heat sealing condition with the tray to form a hermetic seal of the cover to the tray lip. Additional apertures may be provided in the upper sidewalls of the tray whereupon the heated film is not only drawn into sealing contact with the lip of the tray, but also is drawn down partially into the cavity.
  • EP 320294 discloses a skin packaging method wherein a product loaded tray provided with a vent in its sidewall is placed on a vacuum platen, an excess of the thermoplastic film is held over the tray by a frame and heated until it starts to sag over the product, then vacuum is applied from below the tray to pull the film to conform to the surface of the product and over and around the rim of the tray in a thermally set crimp seal. The excess film is then trimmed.
  • the film is cut to the size of the support within the chamber formed by the upper tool and the lower tool, by means of the cutting devices provided on the upper tool.
  • the apertures of the support allow removal of air from within the support even after the film has contacted the support, thus reducing the risk of leaving air pockets in the package.
  • the Applicant has faced the problem of providing a machine for vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support that (similarly to the skin packaging methods of US 3481101 and EP 0320294 ) reduces the risk of leaving air pockets in the package and that at the same time overcomes at least one of the aforesaid drawbacks of the machines of US 2007/0022717 and US 2005/0257501 , i.e.: it is simpler and more compact than these machines and minimizes excess film that is cut from the package and scrapped during or at the end of the packaging process.
  • the present invention provides a machine for vacuum skin packaging a product arranged on a support, the support having a sidewall with at least one hole, the machine comprising the features of claim 1.
  • the machine further comprises a second film transfer plate, the first film transfer plate and the second film transfer plate being arranged so that:
  • the machine further comprises a rotating cylinder suitable for rotating about its axis X, the first film transfer plate and the second film transfer plate being connected to the rotating cylinder so that, when the rotating cylinder rotates about its axis X, the positions of the first film transfer plate and the second film transfer plate are exchanged.
  • the machine further comprises a cutting device having a cutting blade suitable for cutting the film sheet from the film roll and a backing plate suitable for retaining the film sheet after it has been cut.
  • the backing plate has a number of holes suitable for drawing vacuum allowing retaining the film sheet.
  • the first film transfer plate is configured to rest against the backing plate with the film sheet arranged between them and to move the film sheet away from the backing plate by adhesion.
  • the first film transfer plate has a opening connected to the vacuum arrangement, the opening allowing drawing vacuum while the first film transfer plate is holding the film sheet and allowing reintroducing air thereby inducing the first film transfer plate to release the film sheet.
  • the machine further comprises a base unit suitable for supporting the support while the film sheet is drawn into the support.
  • the base unit comprises an outer fixed element and an inner slidable element, the inner slidable element being suitable for supporting the support, the outer fixed element having one or more vacuum conduits formed in the thickness thereof and connected to the vacuum arrangement, the vacuum conduits being in connection with the at least one hole when the support rests on the inner slidable element and the inner slidable element engages a cavity of the outer fixed element.
  • the base unit comprises an outer element, a fixed baseplate and an adapter with a number of levelling feet, the adapter being suitable for supporting the support and leaning on the fixed baseplate with the number of levelling feet projecting on a lower side of the fixed baseplate, the outer element having a base and a sidewall defining a central cavity, the central cavity of the outer element being dimensioned to allow the fixed baseplate and the adapter to slide in the central cavity.
  • the present invention provides a method for vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support, the method comprising the features of claim 11.
  • the method comprises:
  • the method comprises releasing the film sheet from the first film transfer plate after a predefined low pressure is reached within the support, the predefined low pressure being lower than 50 mBar, preferably comprised between 3 mBar and 40 mBar, more preferably comprised between 5 mBar and 30 mBar, and even more preferably comprised between 10 mBar and 20 mBar.
  • the method comprises releasing the film sheet from the first film transfer plate when a predefined time has expired, the predefined time being comprised between 0.5 s and 2.5 s, preferably between 1 s and 2 s.
  • FIGS 1a , 1b , 2 , 3 , and 4 show a machine 1 for vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1a , 1b , 2 , 3 , and 4 show a machine 1 for vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Corresponding parts shown in the various Figures are indicated with the same reference numeral through the Figures. The Figures are not in scale.
  • the machine 1 preferably comprises a frame 10, a support transport assembly 2, a roll supporting assembly 3, a film cutting assembly 4, a packaging assembly 5 and a vacuum arrangement such as a vacuum pump (not shown in the drawings) or the like.
  • the support transport assembly 2 preferably comprises a sliding plane 20 and a conveyor belt 21 arranged in slidable contact with the sliding plane 20.
  • the support transport assembly 2 is fixed to the frame 10 so that the sliding plane 20 is substantially horizontal and the conveyor belt 21 slides in contact with the sliding plane 20 in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow A1 shown in Figure 1 a.
  • the sliding plane 20 has an aperture 20a (visible e.g. in Figures 5a to 5h ) suitable for being engaged by the packaging assembly 5, as it will be described in further detail hereinafter.
  • the support transport assembly 2 further comprises a stepping motor unit 22 for operating the conveyor belt 21 step-by-step.
  • the roll supporting assembly 3 preferably comprises two rotating cylinders 31, 32 horizontally projecting from an upper part of the frame 10 and suitable for supporting a film roll 6.
  • the roll supporting assembly 3 further comprises an arm 33 fixed to the frame 10 and suitable for preventing axial movement of the film roll 6.
  • the roll supporting assembly 3 preferably comprises film punching devices 34 configured essentially to provide the correct profile to the film edges to match, when transversally cut in the cutting assembly 4, the shape of the tray mouth with rounded corners.
  • the punching devices 34 may also help to keep an unrolled portion of film 60 pulled from the film roll 6 substantially vertically aligned.
  • the film may be unwound from the film roll 6 and moved to a first pinch roll horizontally, instead of vertically as illustrated in the figures. In such a case the punching devices 34 may be positioned closer to the film roll 6, in the space between the film roll 6 and said first pinch roll, and rotated by 90° to punch the film while it is horizontal.
  • the film rolled on the film roll 6 is made of a flexible multi-layer material comprising at least a first outer heat-sealable layer, an optional gas barrier layer and a second outer heat-resistant layer.
  • the outer heat-sealable layer preferably comprises a polymer capable of welding to the inner surface of the supports carrying the products to be packaged, such as for instance ethylene homo- or co-polymers, like LDPE, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers, and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ionomers, co-polyesters, e.g. PETG.
  • the optional gas barrier layer preferably comprises oxygen impermeable resins like PVDC, EVOH, polyamides and blends of EVOH and polyamides.
  • the outer heat-resistant layer is preferably made of ethylene homo- or copolymers, ethylene/cyclic-olefin copolymers, such as ethylene/norbornene copolymers, propylene homo- or co-polymers, ionomers, (co)polyesters, (co)polyamides.
  • the film may also comprise other layers such as adhesive layers or bulk layers to increase thickness of the film and improve its mechanical properties. Preferably, one or more layers of the film are crosslinked to improve the strength of the film and/or its heat resistance.
  • Crosslinking may be achieved by using chemical additives or by subjecting the film layers to an energetic radiation treatment.
  • the film preferably has a thickness comprised between 50 microns and 200 microns, more preferably between 60 and 180 microns and even more preferably between 70 microns and 150 microns.
  • the film preferably has a width substantially equal to the width of the support carrying the product to be packaged.
  • the film cutting assembly 4 preferably comprises a cutting device 40 with a cutting blade 401 and a first piston 41.
  • the first piston 41 may be replaced by any other kind of electric, pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator.
  • the first piston 41 is preferably fixed to the frame 10 underneath the roll supporting assembly 3 and is connected to the cutting device 40 so as to push and pull it in the horizontal direction indicated by the double arrow A2 shown in Figure 3 .
  • the film cutting assembly 4 further comprises a backing block 42 and a second piston 43.
  • the second piston 43 may be replaced by any other kind of electric, pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator.
  • the second piston 43 is preferably fixed to the frame 10 and is connected to the backing block 42 so as to push and pull it in the vertical direction indicated by the double arrow A3 shown in Figure 3 .
  • the backing block 42 preferably comprises a backing plate 421 having a number of holes and a backing element 422 having a slit 423.
  • the cutting device 40 and the backing block 42 are preferably arranged so that the unrolled portion of film 60 pulled from the film roll 6 lies between them.
  • the packaging assembly 5 preferably comprises a rotating cylinder 50 mounted on the frame 10 and suitable for rotating about its axis X as indicated by the double arrow A4 shown in Figure 3 .
  • the axis X preferably forms an angle of about 45° with the vertical direction.
  • the rotating cylinder 50 may be replaced by any other kind of electric, pneumatic or hydraulic rotating actuator.
  • the packaging assembly 5 comprises two film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b and two third pistons 52a, 52b.
  • the third pistons 52a, 52b may be replaced by any other kind of electric, pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator.
  • the third pistons 52a, 52b are connected to the rotating cylinder 50 so as to form a substantially right angle between them, i.e. one of the two third pistons (e.g.
  • each of the third pistons 52a, 52b is connected to a respective film transfer plate 51 a, 51 b so as to push and pull it along the direction indicated by the double arrows A5 and A6, respectively.
  • rotation of the rotating cylinder 50 about the axis X of an angle of about 180° (either in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction), the position of the two pistons 52a, 52b and the respective film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b may be exchanged.
  • Each film transfer plate 51 a, 51 b is preferably provided with a heatable surface 510 and with at least one opening 520 (visible in Figures 5a to 5j ) connected to the above mentioned vacuum pump.
  • the transfer plates 51 a and 51 b are illustrated in the drawings as flat surfaces, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It can however also be foreseen to use shaped transfer plates, having an inner concavity with around flat edges corresponding to the rim of the support carrying the product to be packaged. This would have the advantage to allow also the packaging of products protruding from the support.
  • the packaging assembly 5 further preferably comprises a base unit 53 and a fourth piston 54.
  • the fourth piston 54 may be replaced by any other kind of electric, pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator.
  • the fourth piston 54 is fixed to the frame 10 underneath the sliding plane 20 and is connected to the base unit 53 so as to push and pull at least a part thereof in the vertical direction indicated by the double arrow A7 shown in Figure 3 through the aperture 20a of the sliding plane 20.
  • the base unit 53 preferably comprises an outer fixed element 530 and an inner slidable element 531.
  • the outer fixed element 530 has a base and a sidewall defining a central cavity.
  • the outer fixed element 530 is preferably provided with vacuum conduits 532 connected to the above mentioned vacuum pump. They may be positioned e.g. on the bottom of the outer fixed element 530 or, as illustrated in Figures 5a to 5h , in the thickness of the sidewall of the outer fixed element 530.
  • the vacuum conduits 532 are configured for matching with holes placed on sidewalls of a tray supported by the inner slidable element 531 resting on the base of the outer fixed element 530.
  • the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer fixed element 530 is preferably conformed to fit the contour of the support on which the product to be packaged is arranged.
  • the base of the outer fixed element 530 has a central hole.
  • the outer fixed element 530 is preferably fixed to the frame 10 underneath the sliding plane 20.
  • the inner slidable element 531 preferably has a baseplate and a stem connected to the fourth piston 54 (not shown in Figures 5a to 5h ) and engaging the central hole of the base of the outer fixed element 530.
  • the inner slidable element 531 is slidable in the central cavity of the outer fixed element 530 by the fourth piston 54 between a first position (shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 5h ) in which its baseplate engages the aperture 20a of the sliding plane 20 and is substantially aligned with the sliding plane 20, and a second position (shown in Figures 5c to 5g ) in which its baseplate rests on the base of the outer fixed element 530.
  • the heatable surface 510 of the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b is heated to a predefined temperature.
  • the predefined temperature is preferably between 140 °C and 200 °C. It is assumed that the third pistons 52a, 52b with the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b are initially in the configuration shown in Figure 3 , i.e. the third piston 52a has its axis vertically oriented and the third piston 52b has its axis horizontally oriented.
  • the film cutting assembly 4 preferably starts cutting film sheets 61 from the unrolled portion of film 60 that is vertically aligned between the cutting device 40 and the backing block 42.
  • the second piston 43 preferably pushes the backing block 42 in the vertical direction indicated by the double arrow A3 shown in Figure 3 , until the backing element 422 faces the cutting device 40.
  • the unrolled portion of film 60 is drawn until it has a predefined length, preferably corresponding to the length of the supports 7. This can be done by any conventional method such as for instance by means of an encoder, knowing the angular position of the rotating cylinder 31 and suitably controlling its movement to provide the predefined length of unrolled film.
  • the first piston 41 When the unrolled portion of film 60 has the predefined length, the first piston 41 preferably pushes the cutting device 40 in the horizontal direction indicated by the double arrow A2 of Figure 3 , until the cutting device 40 rests against the backing element 422 and the cutting blade 401 engages the slit 423, thus cutting a film sheet 61 whose width and length are equal to the width and length, respectively, of the support 7. After the film sheet 61 has been cut, the first piston 41 preferably pulls the cutting device 40 in the horizontal direction indicated by the double arrow A2 of Figure 3 , thereby moving the cutting device 40 away from the film sheet 61 and the backing element 422.
  • the second piston 43 preferably pulls the backing block 42 downwardly in the vertical direction indicated by the double arrow A3 shown in Figure 3 , until the backing plate 421 faces the film transfer plate 51 b (as shown in Figure 3 ). Substantially at the same time, vacuum is drawn through to the holes of the backing plate 421.
  • the film sheet 61 is also pulled downwardly, since vacuum drawn through the holes of the backing plate 421 keeps the film sheet 61 integral therewith.
  • the third piston 52b pushes the film transfer plate 51 b in the horizontal direction indicated by the double arrow A6 until the film transfer plate 51 b rests against the backing plate 421, with the film sheet 61 arranged between them.
  • the film transfer plate 51 b holds the film sheet 61 by adhesion, i.e. the film sheet 61 adheres to the heatable surface 510 of the film transfer plate 51 b.
  • the film sheet 61 enters into contact with the heatable surface 510 (that, as mentioned above, is heated to the predefined temperature) it advantageously starts to heat and soften.
  • the third piston 52b with its axis horizontally oriented preferably pulls the film transfer plate 51 b along the direction indicated by the double arrows A6 of Figure 3 , so as to move it away from the backing plate 421. Due to vacuum, the film sheet 61 advantageously still adheres to the heatable surface 510.
  • each support 7 preferably has a base, a sidewall and one or more holes 70 on the sidewall.
  • the support 7 preferably has a number n of holes comprised between 2 and 12.
  • the diameter of the holes 70 is preferably comprised between 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm, more preferably between 0.75 mm and 3.0 mm.
  • the number and size of the hole(s) is such that nA ⁇ 4 mm 2 , more preferably nA ⁇ 7 mm 2 , wherein A the area of a single hole 70.
  • the holes 70 have the same size and shape.
  • the holes 70 are preferably positioned close to the rim of the sidewall, in order to reduce the risk of spillage of liquid products and/or the clogging of the holes 70.
  • the holes 70 are preferably evenly distributed across the sidewall area.
  • the holes 70 are preferably positioned at the corners of the sidewall. This further reduces the risk of having residual air pockets in the final package.
  • the supports 7 are preferably made of a single-layer or a multi-layer thermoplastic material having gas barrier properties.
  • gas barrier single-layer thermoplastic materials are (co)polyesters, (co)polyamides and the like.
  • the multi-layer thermoplastic material preferably comprises at least one gas barrier layer and at least one heat-sealable layer to allow welding of the film sheet 61 to the surface of the support 7.
  • gas barrier polymers that can be employed for the gas barrier layer are PVDC, EVOH, (co)polyamides, (co)polyesters and blends thereof.
  • the heat-sealable layer is made of a polyolefin, such as ethylene homo- or co-polymers, e.g., in particular polyethylene, ethylene- ⁇ -olefin copolymers, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, propylene homo- or co-polymers, such as ethylene-propylene copolymers and ethylene-propylene- ⁇ -olefin terpolymers, and ionomers, or of homo- or co-polyesters, e.g. PETG (a glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate).
  • the multi-layer thermoplastic material may also comprise adhesive layers, to better adhere the gas-barrier layer to the adjacent layers.
  • the overall thickness of the single-layer or multi-layer thermoplastic material is preferably lower than 10 mm, more preferably comprised between 0.2 mm and 8.0 mm and even more preferably between 0.3 mm and 7.0 mm.
  • the supports 7 with the products 8 arranged thereon are then leaned on the sliding plane 20, so that the conveyor belt 21 makes them slide step-by-step along the sliding plane 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow A1 of Figure 1a .
  • one of the supports 7 with a product 8 arranged thereon is sliding step-by-step along the sliding plane 20 under effect of the conveyor belt 21 (not shown in Figure 5a ), until it reaches the aperture 20a engaged by the base unit 53 and is accordingly arranged on the baseplate of the inner slidable element 531.
  • the rotating cylinder 50 preferably rotates by 180° about is axis X, so that the positions of the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b are exchanged. Accordingly, the third piston 52b has now its axis vertically oriented and the film transfer plate 51 b holding the film sheet 61 is now above the support 7 and the product 8 (see Figure 5b ). Vacuum applied between the heatable surface 510 of the film transfer plate 51 b and the film sheet 61 is symbolically represented by the arrow A8.
  • the inner slidable element 531 is then moved downwardly by the fourth piston 54 in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A7 of Figure 3 , until its basement rests on the base of the outer fixed element 530 (see Figure 5c ).
  • the third piston 52 pushes downwardly the film transfer plate 51 b along the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A5 of Figure 3 , until the heatable surface 510 engages the rim of the support 7 carried by the outer fixed element 530 of the base unit 53 and the film sheet 61 covers the aperture of the support 7, as shown in Figure 5d .
  • the edges of the film sheet 61 are fixed to the rim of the support 7 in an airtight manner by the pressure of the film transfer plate 51 b.
  • Air is reintroduced between the heatable surface 510 and the film sheet 61 through the at least one opening 520 of the film transfer plate 51 b, as indicated by the arrow A8' of Figure 5f .
  • Air may be reintroduced either immediately after the predefined low pressure is reached, or after a predefined extra-time. Alternatively, air is reintroduced when a predefined time has expired (typically between 0.5 and 2.5 s and preferably between 1 and 2 s).
  • the film sheet 61 then ceases to adhere to the heatable surface 510 and is drawn downwardly by the vacuum within the support 7. While the film sheet 61 is drawn downwardly, the vacuum pump preferably continues removing air from the support 7 through the holes 70.
  • the film sheet 61 moving downwards in the support 7 helps air exiting from the support 7 through the holes 70. Since the film sheet 61 is heated (and then softened), under effect of the vacuum within the support 7 it deforms so as to adhere to the product 8 and to the inner surface of the support 7, as shown in Figure 5f . Removal of air from within the support 7 may advantageously continue until the holes 70 are not closed by the film sheet 61.
  • the film transfer plate 51 b is then pulled in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A5 of Figure 3 by the third piston 52b, thereby moving it away from the base unit 53 (see Figure 5g ).
  • Vacuum is released from below the support 7 and then the fourth piston 54 preferably pushes the inner slidable element 531 of the base unit 53 in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A7 of Figure 3 , until the inner slidable element 531 is again substantially aligned with the sliding plane 20 (see Figure 5h ).
  • the support 7 may continue sliding step-by-step along the sliding plane 20 in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow A1 under effect of the conveyor belt 21.
  • the film cutting assembly 4 cuts a further film sheet as described above (the backing block 42 is pushed upwardly until the backing element 422 faces the cutting device 40, the cutting device 40 is horizontally pushed against the backing element 422 thus cutting the further film sheet, the cutting device 40 is moved away from the backing element 422 and the backing block 42 is pulled downwardly until the backing plate 421 faces the film transfer plate 51 a), the film transfer plate 51 a is pushed against the backing plate 421 with the further film sheet arranged between them, vacuum is applied between the heatable surface of the film transfer plate 51 a and the further film sheet so that the film transfer plate 51 a holds the further film sheet, and the film transfer plate 51 a holding the further film sheet is moved away from the backing plate 421.
  • the film transfer plate 51 b is preferably moved away from the base unit 53 ( Figure 5g ) and the support 7 is raised at the level of the sliding plane 20 ( Figure 5h ). Then, with a single step of the stepping motor unit 22, the conveyor belt 21 removes the support 7 from the base unit 53 and brings a further support with a further product on the inner slidable element 531 of the base unit 53. The further support is brought on the inner slidable element 531 and said element 531 is lowered, while the rotating cylinder 50 preferably rotates by an angle of about 180° about its axis X, thereby exchanging the positions of the film transfer plates 51 a, 51b.
  • the heating surface 510 is then lowered to engage the rim of the support 7 carried by the outer fixed element 530 of the base unit 53. Consequently, the film transfer plate 51 a holding the further film sheet is now above the further support.
  • the operations shown in Figures 5d to 5h are then repeated to provide for a further product packaged according to the vacuum skin package technique.
  • the operation of the machine 1 cyclically repeats according to the above synchronism, thereby implementing vacuum skin packaging on a number of supports 7 with respective products 8 loaded thereon that are sequentially provided onto the sliding plane 20.
  • providing the holes 70 in the support 7 advantageously allows removing air from within the support 7 underneath the film sheet 61 even after the paper film 61 is brought into airtight contact with the rims of the support 7. This advantageously allows removing more air from within the support 7, thereby minimizing the amount of residual air left in the support 7 at the end of the vacuum skin packaging process, and accordingly minimizing the risk of forming air pockets.
  • this allows continuing removing air from the support 7 even after the film sheet 61 is released from the heatable surface 510 of the film transfer plate 51 b. This advantageously allows reducing the residual amount of air inside the package at the end of the vacuum skin packaging process.
  • the film sheet 61 may be air tightly fixed to the rims of the support 7 before starting extracting air from within the support 7.
  • the film transfer plate 51 and the outer fixed element 530 form a "vacuum chamber”.
  • the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b advantageously allows firstly cutting the film sheet 61 and subsequently transferring the film sheet 61 into the position above the product 8 and the support 7. In this way, no excess film is required to allow the film to be pulled from the film roll 6 and to be held in place above the product 8. Further, this advantageously allows providing a film cutting assembly 4 separated from the packaging assembly 5.
  • the film cutting assembly 4 is advantageously very simple, since it performs the cuts at environment temperature and pressure. No complicated solutions are required for performing the cuts in extreme conditions such as very high temperatures or very low pressures.
  • the packaging assembly 5 is advantageously very simple and compact, since it does not have to integrate any cutting device. The resulting machine 1 is therefore simpler and more compact then the known machines.
  • the presence of two alternating film transfer plates 51 increases the heating time of the film sheet 61 (i.e. the time during which the film sheet 61 is in contact with the heatable plate of a film transfer plate 51 a, 51 b).
  • heating of the film sheet 61 starts when a film transfer plate (e.g. 51 b) holds the film sheet 61 by adhesion, it continues while the film transfer plate 51 b is moved away from the backing plate 421, while the rotating cylinder 50 rotates thus exchanging position of the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b, while the film transfer plate 51 b is pushed into contact with the base unit 53 and while air is extracted from within the support 7.
  • This time is much longer than the heating time allowed by the known machines. Therefore, advantageously, the predefined temperature at which the heatable surfaces 510 of the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b are heated may be lower than in prior art machines.
  • the base unit 53' preferably comprises an outer element 530', a fixed baseplate 531' and an adapter 532' with four levelling feet 533'.
  • the fixed baseplate 531' is connected to a fixed stem 540 of the third piston 54 and has four passing holes (not visible in the drawings).
  • the adapter 532' leans on the fixed baseplate 531' with the four levelling feet 533' engaging the passing holes and projecting on the lower side of the fixed baseplate 531'.
  • the adapter 532' may be configured so that, when it leans on the fixed baseplate 531', the four levelling feet 533' are external to the fixed baseplate 531' and they project on the lower side of the fixed baseplate 531'.
  • the fixed baseplate 531' and the adapter 532' engage the aperture 20a of the sliding plane 20 so that upper surface of the adapter 532' is aligned with the sliding plane 20.
  • the outer element 530' has a base and a sidewall defining a central cavity.
  • the base has one or more vacuum holes (not shown in the drawings) suitable for connecting the central cavity with the vacuum pump.
  • the central cavity of the outer element 530' is preferably dimensioned to allow the fixed baseplate 531' and the adapter 532' to slide in the central cavity.
  • the base of the outer element 530' is preferably connected to a movable cylinder 541 of the third piston 54.
  • the hateable surface 510 of the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b is heated to a predefined temperature.
  • the film cutting assembly 4 preferably starts cutting film sheets 61 from the unrolled portion of film 60 as described above (before each cut, the backing block 42 is pushed upwardly until the backing element 422 faces the cutting device 40, the cutting device 40 is horizontally pushed against the backing element 422 thus cutting a film sheet 61, the cutting device 40 is moved away from the backing element 422 and the backing block 42 is pulled downwardly until the backing plate 421 faces the film transfer plate 51 b).
  • the film transfer plate 51 b is pushed against the backing plate 421 with the film sheet 61 arranged between them, vacuum is applied between the heatable surface of the film transfer plate 51 b and the film sheet 61 so that the film transfer plate 51 b holds the film sheet 61, and the film transfer plate 51a holding the film sheet 61 is moved away from the backing plate 421.
  • one of the supports 7 with a product arranged thereon (not visible in Figure 6a ) is sliding along the sliding plane 20 under effect of the conveyor belt 21 (not shown in Figure 6a ), until it reaches the aperture 20a engaged by the base unit 53' and is accordingly arranged on the adapter 532'.
  • the rotating cylinder 50 preferably rotates by 180° about is axis X, so that the positions of the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b are exchanged. Accordingly, the third piston 52b has now its axis vertically oriented and the film transfer plate 51 b holding the film sheet 61 is now above the support 7 and the product 8 (see Figure 6b ).
  • the outer element 530' is then moved upwardly in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A7 of Figure 3 by the moving cylinder 541 of the fourth piston 54, until the outer element 530' touches the rim of the support 7 and the levelling feet 533' of the adapter 532' rests on the base of the outer element 530' (see Figure 6c ).
  • the outer element 530' is further moved upwardly in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A7 of Figure 3 by the moving cylinder 541 of the fourth piston 54, thus raising the adapter 532' (and the support 7 resting on it) and detaching it from the fixed baseplate 531'.
  • the stroke of the outer element 530' ends when the fixed baseplate 531' leans against the base of the outer element 530' (see Figure 6d ).
  • the film transfer plate 51 b holding the film sheet 61 is pushed downwardly until the film sheet 61 covers the aperture of the support 7 (as shown in Figure 6e ), the edges of the film sheet 61 being fixed to the rim of the support 7 in a airtight manner.
  • the film transfer plate 51 b is pulled in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A5 of Figure 3 by the third piston 52b, thereby moving it away from the base unit 53 (see Figure 6f ), and vacuum in the outer element 530' is released.
  • the outer element 530' is then further moved downwardly in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow A7 of Figure 3 by the moving cylinder 541 of the fourth piston 54, until the outer element 530' disengages the aperture 20a of the sliding plane 20 and the support 7 (see Figure 6h ). In this way, the support 7 may continue sliding along the sliding plane 20 in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow A1 under effect of the conveyor belt 21.
  • the two film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b. may be operated according to the synchronism described above.
  • the machine 1 incorporating the base unit 53' according to the second variant has the same advantages as the machine 1 incorporating the base unit 53' according to the first variant, i.e.: minimization of the risk of forming air pockets, minor amount of residual air inside the pack at the end of the vacuum skin packaging process, the use of a simpler vacuum chamber, no excess film required to allow the film to be pulled from the film roll 6 and to be held in place above the product 8, simplicity of the film cutting assembly 4 and of the packaging assembly 5, increased productivity, and increased heating time of the film sheet 61.
  • the base unit 53' according to the second variant advantageously allows adapting the machine 1 to the use with a variety of supports of different types in a very simple way.
  • the packaging assembly 5 incorporating the base unit 53' properly operates if the overall height of the adapter 532' with the levelling feet 533' and the support 7 equals the height of the central cavity of the outer element 530'. Therefore, in case the machine is firstly used for packaging first products on a first type of supports having a first height, and successively the machine should be used for packaging second products on a second type of supports having a second height, the machine 1 can be adapted to the use with the supports of the second type by simply changing the adapter 532' with a new adapter having levelling feet with the suitable height.
  • the levelling feet 533' of the adapter 532' are adjustable, adaptation is performed by simply adjusting the levelling feet 533'. Both operations (changing the adapter or adjusting the levelling feet thereof) are advantageously very simple, since the adapter is merely resting on the fixed baseplate 531', and accordingly may be removed from the base unit 53' and mounted in the base unit 53' in a very easy way.
  • Different from the invention instead of a continuous film of the suitable width which is cut in film sheets to the predefined length matching the tray mouth, it is possible to use pre-cut film sheets of the suitable dimensions (width and length).
  • Said pre-cut film sheets may be stacked and taken up, one at a time, by the film transfer plates 51 a and 51 b and used in the packaging process described above.
  • a suitable configuration of the packaging assembly 5 may foresee that the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b are arranged parallel to the base unit 53 and they are moved vertically by relative pistons that allow said film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b to be raised and lowered as needed.
  • the pistons may be connected to a cylinder rotating about a vertical axis, so as to horizontally displace the pistons with the film transfer plates 51 a, 51 b.
  • This alternative packaging assembly may run the following steps: lowering a first film transfer plate (designed as 51 a above) over the stack of pre-cut film sheets, applying vacuum through the first film transfer plate 51 a to take up the top film sheet of the stack, raising the first film transfer plate 51 a with the pre-cut film sheet adhered thereto, rotating the cylinder by a suitable angle to bring said first film transfer plate 51 a over a base unit 53 and at the same time a second film transfer plate 51 b above the stack of pre-cut film sheets, and lowering the first film transfer plate 51a to carry out a vacuum skin packaging process as described above.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
EP10737061.1A 2009-07-29 2010-07-28 Vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support Active EP2459448B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10737061.1A EP2459448B1 (en) 2009-07-29 2010-07-28 Vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09166750 2009-07-29
EP10737061.1A EP2459448B1 (en) 2009-07-29 2010-07-28 Vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support
PCT/EP2010/060967 WO2011012652A1 (en) 2009-07-29 2010-07-28 Vacuum skin packaging of a product arranged on a support

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2459448A1 EP2459448A1 (en) 2012-06-06
EP2459448B1 true EP2459448B1 (en) 2015-01-14

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Country Status (10)

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US (2) US20120204516A1 (es)
EP (1) EP2459448B1 (es)
CN (1) CN102574591B (es)
AU (1) AU2010277579B2 (es)
BR (1) BR112012001894B8 (es)
ES (1) ES2534836T3 (es)
IN (1) IN2012DN00668A (es)
NZ (1) NZ597663A (es)
RU (1) RU2494935C1 (es)
WO (1) WO2011012652A1 (es)

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BR112012001894B1 (pt) 2020-04-22
ES2534836T3 (es) 2015-04-29
US20120204516A1 (en) 2012-08-16
RU2494935C1 (ru) 2013-10-10
NZ597663A (en) 2014-03-28
US20180170595A1 (en) 2018-06-21
AU2010277579A1 (en) 2012-03-01
BR112012001894A2 (pt) 2016-03-15
AU2010277579B2 (en) 2014-11-06
EP2459448A1 (en) 2012-06-06
IN2012DN00668A (es) 2015-08-21
WO2011012652A1 (en) 2011-02-03
RU2012105423A (ru) 2013-09-10
CN102574591B (zh) 2014-09-24
BR112012001894B8 (pt) 2022-10-04

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