EP2917131B1

EP2917131B1 - A wrapper for a food product

Info

Publication number: EP2917131B1
Application number: EP13818406.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Candini
Original assignee: CORAZZA SpA
Current assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date: 2012-10-26
Filing date: 2013-10-23
Publication date: 2018-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-23
Also published as: AR093162A1; EP2917131A1; ES2687835T3; HUE040411T2; WO2014064619A1; ITBO20120590A1

Description

Technical field

This invention relates to a packaging for a product, in particular for a food product.
The food product is, especially, in the form of a stock cube or the like, and is in particular in the form of a pressed stock cube.

Background art

Known in the prior art are packs for stock cubes which comprise a wrapper wrapped around the product and which are made from a respective sheet of suitable material, in particular a film of plastic material, such as polypropylene or the like.
In the prior art packs for stock cubes, comprising such a wrapper made of plastic film, it is necessary, for the opening, to tear the wrapper, using a corresponding strip positioned beneath and integral with the wrapper, which has a respective end, or tab, forming respective means for gripping and pulling the strip.
However, the presence of such a strip protruding outside the packaging does not allow a totally hermetic seal to be made.
In effect, in the zones of respective superposing of the edges, the wrapper is not able to adhere to the strip in a hermetically sealed fashion, so to the sides of the strip there are openings which, although small, are sufficient to place in communication the inside of the packaging with the outside environment.
This can all lead to contamination and/or accelerated deterioration of the product contained.
It would, therefore, be highly desirable in the sector to have a packaging of the type described above which has a greater hermetic seal than the similar packs known up to now.
Moreover, the prior art packs, due to the necessary presence of such an opening strip, are more costly and require use of more complex apparatuses to obtain the association of such a tearing strip with the sheet forming the wrapper. US5624033 discloses a package for a film cartridge comprises a paperboard carton and a wrapper havig a tongue-shaped tab projecting toward outside and tear lines that when the tab is pulled in a tear-out direction the the main body of the wrapper is also torn out at the same time.
WO2012/032327 discloses a flexible package comprising one or more lengths of flexible material arranged to define an internal cavity closed by means of seals in which opposed regions of the material are bonded together. At least one seal has a tab portions in which the material is not bonded to an opposing region of material. The package is opened by pulling the tab portions so that the material tears along either side of the tab portions in the manner of a tear strip.
EP0473517 discloses an easy tear open feature provided to packages, such as pouches or fold and seal packages, by providing said packages with at least two substantially parallel, substantially linear or straight laser scores across the width of the package, preferably adjacent to at least one seal.
GB 732 032 discloses a food product package comprising a wrapper which covers the product from all sides and which is closed by a seam providing a completely closed envelope.

Disclosure of the invention

This invention therefore proposes a new solution as an alternative to the solutions known up to now and, more specifically, proposes to overcome one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks and/or problems and/or to meet one or more of the needs felt in the trade or inferable from the above.
Accordingly provided is a packaging for a product, in particular a food product, especially in the form of a stock cube or the like, in particular in the form of a pressed stock cube; the packaging comprising a wrapper for wrapping the product made from a sheet of respective material, in particular a film of plastic material, such as polypropylene or the like; means are provided for opening the wrapper having respective means for gripping with the fingers of the user, characterised in that the means for gripping the opening means are formed, or constituted, by the sheet forming the wrapper.
In this way, the use of the strip for opening the packs is avoided.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other innovative aspects of the invention are set out in the appended claims and its technical features and advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows of a preferred, advantageous embodiment of it, which must be considered purely as a non-limiting example; the description being made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the packaging according to this invention;
Figure 2A is a perspective view of a stock cube, or product, contained in this pack;
Figure 2B is a top plan view of a portion of tape from which the sheet for making the packaging is made, showing in dashed lines the main fold lines of the wrapper around the product;
Figure 3 is a side view of the packaging in a first operational step of opening the pack;
Figures 4 to 8 show, in a respective perspective view, the subsequent steps of opening the pack.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the packaging 10 for a respective product, in particular a food product, especially a semi-solid food product, and defined by a stock cube or the like, in particular a pressed stock cube.
The product is shown individually in the next Figure 2A.
As shown in Figure 2A, the product 11 preferably has a prismatic shape with a rectangular base.
More specifically, the product 11 has an outer surface divided into respective perpendicular wide upper and lower faces 11a, 11b, perpendicularly opposite and preferably parallel to each other, respective lateral longitudinal faces 11c, 11d, transversely opposite and preferably parallel to each other, and respective transversal faces 11e, 11f, in turn longitudinally opposite and preferably parallel to each other.
In practice, the product 11 has an outer surface divided into respective first and second perpendicular faces 11a, 11b, respectively upper and lower, between which respective first and second longitudinal lateral faces 11c, 11d extend, and between which respective transversal faces 11e, 11f extend, respectively front and rear.
As shown, the packaging 10 comprises a wrapper 13 for containing the product 11, for wrapping the product 11.
More specifically, the containment wrapper 13 wraps the product and has an outer face on view and an inner surface in contact with the product, in particular in direct contact with outer surface of the product or stock cube.
More specifically, the outer surface of the wrapper, or part of it, is made from joining material, in particular heat-sealable material.
The wrapper 13 is made from a respective flat sheet 13', in turn made from the respective continuous strip or tape 113, by corresponding cuts, in particular in the form of respective curved cuts T, T.
The strip 113, or flat sheet 13', is made from corresponding material, in particular from a respective film of plastic material, such as polypropylene or the like.
The sheet, or wrapper, 13 is wrapped around the product 11, covering the respective outer faces of the product, forming a first and a second perpendicular panel, respectively upper 13a and lower 13b, superposed on the perpendicular faces 11a, 11b of the product, first and second opposite longitudinal lateral panels 13c, 13d, superposed on the longitudinal lateral faces 11c, 11d, of the product, and opposite transversal panels, respectively front 13e and rear 13f, superposing corresponding transversal faces 11e, 11f of the product.
As shown, the opposite longitudinal lateral panels 13c, 13d are formed by respective tabs on the extension of the perpendicular and transversal panels, and protruding beyond the respective longitudinal lateral faces of the product 11c, 11d, the tabs 113a, 113b being folded on the respective longitudinal lateral face of the product and, at least partly, superposed, as well as mutually joined, in particular by heat sealing, to each other, in the area of mutual superposing.
As shown, in particular in Figure 1, the upper perpendicular panel 13a comprises a main flap 13'a, preferably (as shown) with a longitudinal length corresponding, or substantially corresponding, to the longitudinal length of the respective upper face 13a, that is, to the longitudinal length of the respective upper perpendicular face of the product 11a. The main flap 13'a, in particular on the extension of the rear transversal face 13f, superposes, at least at a relative longitudinal end, especially at the relative front end, an underlying edge 13"a, which, in particular, extends from the transversal front face 13e, and preferably has, as shown, a reduced length.
The packaging 10 comprises means 15 of opening, in particular of tearing, of the wrapper 11 having respective means for gripping with the fingers of the user.
Advantageously, the means of gripping the opening means of the wrapper are formed, or constituted, by the same sheet 13 which forms the wrapper.
More specifically, the means of gripping the opening means are formed, or constituted, by a respective tab 15.
More specifically, the gripping tab 15 extends in width for a part of the width of the pack, preferably for almost the entire width of the packaging 10, that is, for almost the entire width of the respective edge of the wrapper.
The gripping tab 15, as shown, has a curved profile.
The gripping tab 15 therefore forms means of traction and opening of the wrapper.
The gripping tab 15 has a curved end profile 115, extending almost for the entire width of the pack, that is, extending for the entire width of the tab 15.
In practice, the gripping tab 15 extends substantially, or almost, for the entire width of the corresponding panel of the wrapper, in particular for the entire width of the upper panel 13a.
More specifically, as shown, the gripping tab 15 extends curved and convex in front of the pack.
Advantageously, the gripping tab 15 is movable between a home position, more specifically a lowered position, and a gripping position, more specifically defined by a raised position of the tab 15, shown in dashed lines in Figure 3.
More specifically, in the home position, the gripping tab 15 is coplanar with the respective panel, or flap, of the wrapper, in particular with the superposing flap 13'a of the perpendicular panel of the wrapper, that is, with the perpendicular panel 13a of the wrapper.
More specifically, in the home position, the gripping tab 15 is raised relative to the respective panel, or flap, of the wrapper, in particular with respect to the superposing flap 13'a of the perpendicular panel 13a of the wrapper, that is, with respect to the perpendicular panel 13a of the wrapper.
Advantageously, the gripping tab 15 is formed by, the corresponding end of the superposing flap 13'a of the panel 13a.
Advantageously, the gripping tab 15 extends protruding, more specifically slightly protruding, from a respective panel of the wrapper, in particular from the transversal panel, preferably the front transversal panel 13e of the wrapper.
More specifically, the gripping tab 15 extends protruding so as to be engaged and drawn by the user's finger, in particular towards the gripping position of the tab 15, as shown in Figure 3.
Advantageously, the gripping tab 15 extends protruding so as to be engaged and drawn, or moved, by the user's finger, with a sliding movement on the panel of the wrapper relative to which the gripping tab protrudes. More specifically, the user's finger engages and draws the tab, with a sliding movement on the transversal panel, especially on the front transversal panel 13e, of the wrapper.
More specifically, the gripping tab 15 extends protruding so as to be engaged and drawn, or moved, by the user's finger, with a movement perpendicular to the pack.
More specifically, the gripping tab 15 slightly protrudes relative to the corresponding panel 13e of the wrapper.
More specifically, the gripping tab 15 shows solely its central part, which protrudes from the respective face, or panel, 13e of the pack.
Advantageously, the panel 13a of the wrapper, from which the gripping tab 15 extends, is in the form of a panel with hermetic sealing.
Moreover, the panel 13a of the wrapper, from which the gripping tab 15 extends, has a respective edge 13'a, which superposes and joins, in particular by heat-sealing, an underlying edge 13"a of the wrapper, to form a hermetic seal of the pack.
More specifically, the wrapper 13 has a panel 13a for closing the end of the sheet round the product, which comprises the upper panel of the wrapper, and which is formed by a superposing edge 13'a, joined with a hermetic seal on an underlying edge 13"a.
The zone 17 of joining the superposing edge 13'a to the underlying edge 13"a is provided between the lower face of the superposing edge 13'a and the upper face of the underlying edge 13"a.
Moreover, the zone 17 of joining the superposing edge 13'a to the underlying edge 13"a of the wrapper is in the form of a strip, in particular rectilinear, extending transversely.
Advantageously, as shown, the joining zone 17 extends for the entire width of the pack, in particular for the entire width of the respective panel, that is, for the entire width of the upper panel 13a of the wrapper.
Advantageously, the joining zone 17 delimits, in particular to the rear, in the respective edge 13'a of the wrapper, the gripping tab 15.
The joining zone 17 is therefore, as shown, spaced from the respective and adjacent end edge 115 of the respective edge 13'a, or of the panel 13a.
In practice, the longitudinal length of the griping tab 15 is defined between the joining zone 17 ad the free end edge 115.
The joining zone 17 is, in particular and preferably, spaced from the edge 115 of the respective edge 13'a, that is, from the free edge 115 of the gripping tab 15, for a stretch of between 3 mm and 7 mm in length.
In practice, the joining zone 17 extends up to the lateral edges of the corresponding panel, in particular of the upper panel 13a, of the wrapper.
Moreover, as shown, the joining zone 17 is closer to a longitudinal edge of the corresponding panel, in particular of the upper panel 13a, of the wrapper relative to the opposite longitudinal edge.
In practice, the joining zone 17 is closer to the edge with respect to which the gripping tab 15 extends.
Advantageously, the opening of the wrapper comprises the tearing of the wrapper.
Advantageously, there are means for opening the pack, which are in the form of means for tearing the wrapper, or sheet, the tearing means being defined by a corresponding portion 15 of the same wrapper or sheet.
In practice, the means for opening the packaging are in the form of means for tearing the wrapper, the tearing means being defined by a corresponding portion of the same wrapper, or sheet, which is subjected to traction during the opening steps.
In practice, as can be seen from Figures 3 to 8, the opening of the wrapper comprises lifting the gripping tab 15, as shown in Figure 3, and pulling the tab perpendicularly to the pack, in such a way as generate a separating strip 135, which, kept appropriately in traction, extends along the various and wide panels of the same wrapper.
Advantageously, there are means for directing the tearing of the wrapper.
Advantageously, the gripping means 15 are delimited, more specifically transversely delimited, by respective first and second lines for directing the tearing of the wrapper 19a, 19b.
Advantageously, the respective line 19a, 19b for directing the tearing is in the form of a respective cut 19a, 19b made in the sheet forming the wrapper.
Advantageously, the respective line 19a, 19b for directing the tearing of the wrapper extends parallel, or substantially parallel, to the respective lateral edge of the wrapper or panel 13a.
Advantageously, the respective lines for directing the tearing of the wrapper extend between the joining and hermetically sealing zone 17, which is provided at the superposing edge 13'a and the underlying edge 13"a, and the corresponding free end 115 of the gripping tab 15.
More specifically, the respective line for directing the tearing of the wrapper has a length which can vary between 2 and 7 mm.
Moreover, advantageously, the respective line 19a, 19b for directing the tearing of the wrapper is spaced from the respective adjacent lateral edge of the wrapper or panel 13a, for a stretch of between 0.1 and 5 mm long.
More specifically, this packaging has a transversal width of approximately 30 mm, a perpendicular height of approximately 10 mm and a longitudinal length of just greater than 20 mm. Other dimensions are however, and obviously, all practicable.
Moreover, it is understood that means for directing the tearing of the wrapper can be used which differ from the cuts 19a, 19b, described here.
One could, for example, use simple creased or thinned lines of the layer forming the wrapper or sheet.
Advantageously, therefore, to open the wrapper, the gripping tab 15 is pulled perpendicularly to the pack, or to the corresponding panel 13a of the wrapper from which the tab 15 extends.
In practice, this packaging comprises main transversely extended panels, formed respectively by the upper and lower perpendicular panels 13a, 13b and the front and rear transversal panels 13e, 13f.
The main panels, or those with the larger dimensions, are laterally joined together by respective longitudinal lateral panels 13c, 13d.
In use, at the opening of the pack, a central strip 135, which is separated by corresponding portions, or lateral panels, of the same wrapper, is therefore formed in the respective main panel of the wrapper.
In practice, the packaging is opened thanks to the separation of a central strip 135 of the respective perpendicular upper panel 13a, the rear transversal panel 13f, the lower perpendicular panel 13b, and, if necessary, the front transversal panel 13e.
More specifically, the central separating strip 135 has a width which is preferably almost equal to the width of the packaging or the corresponding panel, and which is greater than half the width of the packaging or the corresponding panel.
The sheet of the wrapper is, therefore, in the form of a thin and flat element delimited longitudinally by respective curved transversal edges T, T and, moreover, by lateral edges which are rectilinear and parallel to each other.
As may be inferred, with particular reference to Figure 2B, the flat sheet 13' is wrapped around the product 11, in such a way as to make a central edge 13b, which forms the lower perpendicular panel of the wrapper, opposite edges 13e, 13f, which are longitudinally adjacent on opposite sides of the central edge 13a, and which form the opposite front and rear transversal panels of the wrapper, and first and second longitudinal end edges 13'a and 13"a, adjacent longitudinally to the edges forming the transversal panels of the wrapper, the end edges 13'a and 13"a being designed to superpose each other to form the upper perpendicular panel 13a of the same wrapper.
The sheet 13' also has respective portions 113, 113 which are lateral to the longitudinal edges, designed to form edges of the opposite longitudinal lateral panels 13c, 13d of the wrapper, the edges being conveniently folded around the lateral faces of the product and mutually superposed according to the prior art known to experts in the field and which is not therefore described in detail.
Also provided is an advantageous process for making a wrapper for a product, in particular a food product, especially a semi-solid food product, and defined by a stock cube or the like, in particular a pressed stock cube, the wrapper being provided with, or forming, respective means of opening the wrapper.
Advantageously, the process comprises separating a sheet, forming the opening means, from a respective strip of material, using corresponding transversal cuts T, T provided in the strip.
Advantageously, the transversal cuts T, T for separating the sheet have a respective curved profile.
The sheet 13' is preferably made of mono-oriented or bi-oriented polypropylene, in such a way as to be torn along the traction direction.
In practice, in this way, once triggered, the tearing of the sheet extends along the same direction, in particular along the traction direction.
The sheet can also comprise a barrier layer, in particular a metallic layer and a joining layer, preferably forming a heat-sealable layer or lacquer.
As shown in Figure 2B, the joining layer might also be positioned only in predetermined positions of the sheet.
More specifically, the joining layer is positioned at lateral edges of the sheet L1 and L2 for joining the lateral tabs of the wrapper.
As shown, the sheet 13' has a joining layer arranged according to a strip L0 transversal to the sheet, in particular for the entire length of the same sheet.
In practice, the joining layer is arranged according to a transversal strip L0 for making the join 17 from which the gripping tab 15 extends. In practice, according to the process, the sheets 13' defining respective means of opening the wrapper are separated from a respective strip of material, in particular using corresponding cuts extending transversely, the cuts T, T defining a respective end of the corresponding sheet, in particular a shaped end, more specifically shaped according to a curved profile, and which is designed to form a tab 15 for gripping and opening the pack.
The packaging according to the invention described above is susceptible of industrial application.
It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that several changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention, described in depth above.

Claims

A food product packaging (10), said food product being especially in the form of a stock cube or the like, in particular in the form of a pressed stock cube; the packaging comprising a wrapper (13) for wrapping the product (11) made from a sheet of respective material, said material being a film of plastic material, such as polypropylene or the like; said wrapper (13) forming a first and a second perpendicular panel, respectively upper (13a) and lower (13b), superposed on the perpendicular faces (11a), (11b) of the product, first and second opposite longitudinal lateral panels (13c), (13d), superposed on the longitudinal lateral faces (11c), (11d), of the product, and opposite transversal panels, respectively front (13e) and rear (13f), superposing corresponding transversal faces (11e), (11f) of the product, means (15) being provided for opening the wrapper (13) having respective means for gripping with the fingers of the user; characterized in that the means (15) for gripping the opening means are formed by the sheet (13) forming the wrapper and are formed by a respective tab (15) defining means of traction and opening of the wrapper (13); wherein the wrapper (13) has the upper panel (13a) for closing the end of the sheet round the product which is formed by a superposing edge (13'a) joined with a hermetic seal on an underlying edge (13"a); in that the gripping tab (15) is formed by, the corresponding end of the superposing edge (13'a) of the upper perpendicular panel (13a) of the wrapper; in that the gripping tab (15) is transversely delimited by respective first and second lines for directing the tearing of the wrapper (19a, 19b); and in that the respective lines for directing the tearing of the wrapper extend between the joining and hermetically sealing zone (17),which is provided at the superposing edge (13'a) and the underlying edge (13"a), and the corresponding free end (115) of the gripping tab (15).
The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the tab (15) is delimited by respective first and second lines for directing the tearing of the wrapper that are near, or at, the respective lateral edge of the packaging or the respective panel (13a) of the same wrapper being spaced from the respective adjacent lateral edge of the wrapper or panel (13a), for a stretch of between 0.1 and 5 mm long, so that, during the opening of the wrapper, the lifting of the gripping tab (15), and the pulling the same tab perpendicularly to the pack, generates a separating strip (135), which, kept appropriately in traction, extends along the various and wide panels of the same wrapper.
The packaging according to claim 2, characterised in that the said central separating strip (135) that has a width which is greater than half the width of the packaging or the corresponding panel.
The packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gripping tab (15) has a shaped, or curved, profile in particular having a curved profile substantially for the entire width of the pack; in particular, the gripping tab (15) having a central part protruding from the respective face, or panel, of the pack.
The packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gripping tab (15) is movable between a home position, more specifically a lowered position, and a gripping position, more specifically defined by a raised position of the tab (15).
The packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the home position, the gripping tab (15) is coplanar with the respective panel or edge of the wrapper, in particular with the superposing edge (13'a) of the perpendicular panel (13a) of the wrapper, that is, with the perpendicular panel (13a) of the wrapper.
The packaging according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that in the gripping position, the gripping tab (15) is raised relative to the respective panel, or edge, of the wrapper, in particular with respect to the superposing edge (13'a) of the panel, that is, with respect to the perpendicular panel (13a) of the wrapper.
The packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gripping tab (15) extends protruding, more specifically slightly protruding, from a respective panel, in particular from the transversal panel, especially of the head transversal panel (13e) of the wrapper, more specifically the gripping tab (15) extends protruding so as to be engaged and drawn by the user's finger, in particular towards the gripping position; preferably the gripping tab (15) extends protruding so as to be engaged and moved by the user's finger with a sliding movement on the respective panel of the wrapper relative to which the gripping tab (15) protrudes.
The packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the zone (17) of joining the superposing edge (13'a) to the underlying edge (13"a) of the wrapper is in the form of a transversely extended panel (17), in particular the joining zone (17) extending for the entire width of the respective panel (13a) of the wrapper.
The packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sheet (13') is made of mono-oriented or bi-oriented polypropylene.