Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D43/14—Non-removable lids or covers
  • B65D43/16—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
  • B65D43/162—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D25/14—Linings or internal coatings
  • B65D25/16—Loose, or loosely-attached, linings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
  • B65D77/04—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another
  • B65D77/0446—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another the inner and outer containers being rigid or semi-rigid and the outer container being of polygonal cross-section not formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks
  • B65D77/0453—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another the inner and outer containers being rigid or semi-rigid and the outer container being of polygonal cross-section not formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks the inner container having a polygonal cross-section
  • B65D77/046—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another the inner and outer containers being rigid or semi-rigid and the outer container being of polygonal cross-section not formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks the inner container having a polygonal cross-section and being a tray or like shallow container

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of food packaging.
• It relates more particularly to a tray intended to contain a foodstuff. It also relates to a method of manufacturing such a tray.
• the foodstuff to be consumed is generally placed in a tray consisting of an outer cardboard shell and an inner envelope formed of a plastic film covering the outer shell on the inside.
• the inner envelope can be attached to the outer shell by thermoforming.
• adhesion zones are advantageously provided on the inner periphery of the outer shell, said adhesion zones being capable of being in contact with the plastic film during a step of building up the volume of the envelope. internal.
• These adhesion areas are generally made of a thermo-adhesive coating which is heat-activatable.
• thermoforming the plastic film requires the use of a thermoforming mold inside which the outer shell is placed. Since the outer shell is generally obtained by folding a pre-cut cardboard blank back on itself, it is necessary to stabilize the blank in a pre-assembled configuration corresponding to the final shape of the outer shell before it is introduced into the mould. This allows in particular to prevent the outer shell from coming out of the mold due to the natural tendency of the blank to return to its original flat configuration. This stabilization is generally achieved by applying a layer of quick-setting glue to several surfaces of the blank intended to be superimposed on each other in the pre-assembled configuration of the blank. This application of fast-setting glue, however, has many disadvantages.
• the invention therefore aims to provide a tray and a method of manufacturing such a tray that does not have the aforementioned drawbacks.
• the invention relates to a tray, in particular for packaging a foodstuff, comprising:
• an outer shell comprising at least one bottom wall and at least one side wall
• each of the adhesion zones is completely surrounded by a thicker portion of the said at least one side wall and in the fact that the shell external is formed from a pre-cut blank, preferably cardboard, which is folded on itself, said blank having assembly tabs provided with a through opening and folding flaps intended to be folded over said tabs assembly, the thicker portions of said at least one side wall being formed by the superposition of parts of the assembly tabs which are covered by said folding flaps the and parts of the folding flaps which cover the assembly tabs, the adhesion zones corresponding to the portions of the folding flaps which are arranged opposite the through openings of the assembly tabs.
• the adhesion zones have a circular shape.
• said at least one bottom wall has an octagonal shape.
• the inner casing consists of a thermoplastic film which is secured to the outer shell by heat sealing.
• the outer shell is formed of two half-shells interconnected by a hinge, each of the half-shells comprising a bottom wall and a side wall.
• the hinge is formed by a folding edge of the blank.
• the two half-shells have identical or substantially identical shapes.
• the bottom wall of each of the half-shells has an octagonal shape.
• the inner casing comprises a peripheral edge protruding from the outer shell, said peripheral edge being provided with a first V-shaped groove and a second V-shaped groove, said first and second grooves being disposed on either side of the hinge of the outer shell and together forming a hinge element for the inner shell.
• the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a tray as defined above, the method comprising the following steps:
• thermo-adhesive coating a pre-cut blank, preferably made of cardboard, in a flat configuration, said blank being covered on several zones, called adhesion zones, with a thermo-adhesive coating;
• the blank forms an outer shell comprising at least one bottom wall and at least one side wall, and in which the adhesion zones are arranged on an inner face of said at least one side wall being each totally surrounded by two superposed portions of the blank;
• thermoforming mould
• the blank comprises a central zone delimited at least by two longitudinal edges, respectively lower and upper, and by at least two lateral edges, respectively left and right, the central zone being extended on each of said edges longitudinal and lateral by a folding flap, at least two of said folding flaps being provided with adhesion zones and at least two others of said folding flaps being extended at each of their ends by an assembly bracket provided with a through opening, said through-openings being positioned in such a way as to be arranged opposite the adhesion zones in the pre-assembled configuration of the blank.
• the blank comprises two identical parts separated by a folding edge, each of the parts being intended to form a half-shell of the outer shell after folding the blank and the folding edge being intended to form a hinge connecting the two half-shells together.
• each of the parts comprises a central zone delimited at least by two longitudinal edges, respectively lower and upper, and by at least two lateral edges, respectively left and right, the central zone being extended on each of said longitudinal and lateral edges by a folding flap, at least two of said folding flaps being provided with adhesion zones and at least two other of said folding flaps being extended at each of their ends by an assembly tab provided with a through opening, said through-openings being positioned in such a way as to be arranged opposite the adhesion zones in the pre-assembled configuration of the blank.
• the central zone has an octagonal shape.
• thermoforming mold comprises retaining means capable of retaining the outer shell inside the mold before the mold is closed.
• said retaining means comprise a plurality of punches intended to locally deform an outer face of the outer shell.
• the step of applying heat to the adhesion zones is carried out by means of electrodes producing ultrasound.
• thermoadhesive coating consists of a PVA varnish.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray according to a first embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2 is a view of a pre-cut blank intended to form the outer shell of the tray of Figure 1, the blank being in its flat configuration;
• Figure 3 is a view of the blank of Figure 2 after a first folding step
• Figure 4 is a view of the blank of Figure 2 after a second folding step
• Figure 5 is a view of the blank of Figure 2 after a third folding step, said blank then being in its pre-assembled configuration;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a thermoforming mold intended to thermoform a plastic film on the blank of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a view of the tray of the invention during a heat sealing step of the adhesion zones;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tray according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 9 is a view of a pre-cut blank intended to form the outer shell of the tray of Figure 8, the blank being in its flat configuration;
• Figure 10 is a view of the blank of Figure 9 in its preassembled configuration.
• a tray 10 in an open position.
• This tray 10 defines an interior storage space for a foodstuff. It comprises an outer shell 11, for example cardboard, and an inner envelope 12 formed of a plastic film internally covering the outer shell 11.
• the outer shell 11 is formed of two half-shells 11a, 11b interconnected by a line folding forming hinge 13, the two half-shells having identical or substantially identical shapes.
• the hinge 13 makes it possible to pass from the open position shown in Figure 1 to a closed position (not shown) of the outer shell 11, in which one of the half-shells 11a or 11b is folded against the other half-shell 11a, 11b having pivoted around the hinge 13.
• Each of the half-shells 11a, 11b comprises a bottom wall 111 of octagonal shape and a side wall 112 completely surrounding the bottom wall 111 and which is substantially perpendicular thereto .
• the inner casing 12 is in at least partial contact with the side wall 112 and with the bottom wall 111 of each of the half-shells 11a, 11b.
• the inner envelope 12 will completely match the internal shape of the outer shell 11.
• the inner envelope 12 is secured to the side wall 112 of each of the half-shells 11a, 11b at a plurality of zones of adhesion 14 arranged on an inner face of said side wall 112.
• the inner casing 12 comprises a peripheral edge 15 projecting from the outer shell 11 and disposed mainly in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 111.
• the peripheral edge 15 is provided with a first V-shaped groove 16 and a second groove 17 with a V-shaped profile, said grooves 16, 17 being arranged on either side of the hinge 13 of the outer shell 11. These grooves 16, 17 together form a hinge element for the inner casing 12.
• FIG. 2 there is shown a blank 20 pre-cut and pre-folded cardboard which is intended to form the outer shell 11 of the tray 10 of Figure 1.
• This blank 20 comprises two identical parts 21, 22 separated by an edge folding 13, each of the parts 21, 22 comprising a central zone, respectively 210, 220, of octagonal shape delimited by a lower longitudinal edge, respectively 211, 221, by a longitudinal edge upper, respectively 213, 223, by a left side edge, respectively 212, 222, and by a right side edge, respectively 214, 224.
• the lower longitudinal edges 211, 221, respectively upper 213, 223, are respectively connected to the side edges left 212, 222 and right 214, 224 by two lower oblique edges left 215, 225 and right 217, 227, and by two upper oblique edges left 216, 226 and right 218, 228.
• the central zones 210, respectively 220, are extended on each of their longitudinal and lateral edges by a folding flap, namely a lower folding flap 231, respectively 241, an upper folding flap 233, respectively 243, a left folding flap 232, respectively 242, and a right folding flap 234, respectively 244.
• the lower and upper longitudinal edges 211 and 213, respectively 221 and 223, and the left and right side edges 212 and 214, respectively 222 and 224, correspond to folding edges of the prefolded blank 20 so as to allow folding of the folding flaps 231 - 234, respectively 241-244, in a vertical position, perpendicular to the central zone 210, respectively 220.
• the lower and upper folding flaps 231, 233 and 241, 243 are provided on their internal face of two circular zones 14 covered with a thermoadhesive coating, each of said circular zones 14 being close to one of s end edges, of said folding flaps 231, 233, respectively 241, 243, which adjoins one of the oblique edges 215-218, respectively 225-228.
• the left and right folding flaps 232, 234, respectively 242, 244 are extended on each of their end edges 239, respectively 249, which adjoin the oblique edges 215-218, respectively 225-228, by a tab assembly 235, respectively 245.
• Each of the assembly legs 235, respectively 245, comprises a first part 235a, respectively 245a, of trapezoidal shape connected to one of the left or right folding flaps 232, 234, respectively 242, 244, at the level of one of the end edges 239, respectively 249, and a second part 235b, respectively 245b, connected to the first part 235a, respectively 245a, by a fold line.
• the end edges 239, respectively 249, correspond to folding edges of the pre-folded blank 20 so as to allow the folding of the assembly tabs 235, respectively 245, in a folded-down position in which they are oriented obliquely with respect to the flaps left and right folding 232, 234, respectively 242, 244.
• the second part 235b, respectively 245b, of the assembly tabs 235, respectively 245, is provided with a through opening 18, said through openings 18 having a substantially identical circular shape to that of the circular zones 14.
• FIG. 3 there is shown the blank 20 after folding the left and right folding flaps 232, 234 and 242, 244 around the left and right side edges 212, 214 and 222, 224 respectively. In this folded position, they are positioned substantially perpendicular to the central zone 210, respectively 220.
• FIG 4 there is shown the blank 20 after the additional folding of the assembly tabs 235 and 245 around the end edges 239 and 249 respectively and around the fold lines separating the first parts 235a and 245a from the second parts 235b and 245b. In this folded position, the second parts 235b, 245b respectively, are oriented substantially perpendicular to the left and right folding flaps 212, 214, 222, 224 respectively.
• FIG. 5 there is shown the blank 20 after the additional folding of the lower and upper folding flaps 231, 233 and 241, 243 around the lower and upper longitudinal edges 211, 213 and 221, 223.
• the flaps 231, 233, respectively 241, 243 are positioned substantially perpendicular to the central zone 210, respectively 220, and to the left and right folding flaps 232 , 234, 242, 244 respectively, and are in contact with the second parts 235b, 245b respectively, of the assembly lugs 235, 245 respectively.
• the adhesion zones 14 so that the adhesion zones 14 are completely visible through said through openings 18.
• FIG. 1 A comparison of Figures 1 and 5 shows that the bottom wall 111 of the half-shell 11a, respectively 11b, corresponds substantially to the central zone 210, respectively 220, of the blank 20, and that the side wall 112 of the half -shell 11a, respectively 11b, is defined by the meeting of the folding flaps 231-234, respectively 241-244, arranged in their vertical position, between which are inserted the assembly tabs 235, respectively 245.
• the blank 20 having in principle , in its flat configuration, a uniform thickness over its entire surface, it should also be noted that this side wall 112 has a greater thickness at the portions of the folding flaps 231-234, respectively 241-244, of the blank 20 which are superposed with the second parts 235b, respectively 245b, of the assembly tabs 235, respectively 245.
• each of the adhesion zones 14 of the outer shell 11 is completely surrounded by one of said s thicker portions of the side wall 112.
• the outer shell 11 shown in Figure 5 is placed inside the thermoforming mold 1 shown in Figure 6.
• This mold 1 is formed of a lower die 2 and a upper die 3, said dies 2, 3 being movable relative to each other in the direction Z indicated in Figure 6 so as to allow mutual approach.
• the lower die 2 has a series of four indentations 4 positioned according to a regular grid of two rows and two columns, each of the indentations 4 being intended to receive one of the half-shells 11a or 11b of two identical shells 11 arranged side by side.
• Each of the cavities 4 will advantageously have a shape complementary to those of the half-shells 11a and 11b so as to allow them to be housed without play inside the cavities 4.
• each of the cavities 4 comprises a series of four bevelled surfaces 41 intended to support the first parts 235a and 245a of the assembly tabs 235 and 245 of the blank 20.
• punches 6 are arranged projecting from said beveled surfaces 41. These punches 6 are intended to locally deform the outer face of the shells 11 during the establishment of the shells 11 inside the lower die 2 such that a temporary mechanical connection takes place between said shells 11 and said lower die 2. These punches 6 therefore make it possible to maintain the shells 11 inside the cavities 4 before the mold 1 is closed. maintain the blank 20 in its pre-assembled configuration.
• the upper die 3 has a series of four relief counterforms 5 preferably having a shape complementary to those of the cavities 4.
• the dies 2, 3 are then heated to a temperature of between 60°C and 130°C, and preferably between 80°C and 90°C.
• a plastic film 12 is then interposed between the lower die 2 and the upper die 3 before they are brought together until the mold 1 is closed.
• a vacuum suction can, if necessary, be applied inside the mold 1 so as to to press the plastic film 12 firmly against the shells 11 and against the upper edge 7 of the lower die 2 which surrounds the cavities 4.
• This upper edge 7 comprises in particular a series of three recessed shapes 8 aligned along a direction median D of the lower die 2.
• Said recessed shapes 8 have a V-profile and are configured to form the first V-profile groove 16 and the second V-profile groove 17 of the tray 10 shown in Figure 1.
• the mold 1 is opened and the tray 10 is removed.
• An additional operation of activating the adhesion zones 14 can then be implemented.
• Such a step is for example represented in FIG. 7. It consists in particular of applying heat to the adhesion zones 14 through the internal envelope 12 by means of electrodes 9 producing ultrasound.
• the heat applied by the electrodes 9 will depend on the activation temperature of the thermo-adhesive coating forming the adhesion zones 14.
• the adhesion zones 14 thus heated therefore make it possible to secure the inner envelope 12 to the outer shell 11 by heat sealing.
• a subsequent separation of the two main components of the tray 10 may however be possible by applying a sufficiently high tearing force.
• This separation must generate a minimum quantity of material torn from the outer shell 11 of cardboard so as to allow optimal recycling of the constituent materials of the tray 10. Due to the particular positioning of the adhesion zones 14, namely in zones of the side wall 112 of each of the half-shells 11a and 11b which are surrounded by thicker portions of the side wall 112, said thicker portions corresponding , as described above, to the portions of the folding flaps of the blank 20 which are superimposed with the assembly tabs of said blank 20, this connection also makes it possible to maintain the blank 20 in its preassembled configuration, given that the adhesion zones 14, when welded, prevent relative movement between said folding flaps and said assembly tabs.
• the method of the invention also makes it possible to form a 10′ tray shown in Figure 8.
• This 10' tray defines an interior storage space for a foodstuff. It comprises an outer shell 11, for example cardboard, and an inner envelope 12 formed of a plastic film internally covering the outer shell 11.
• the outer shell 11 comprises a bottom wall 111 of octagonal shape and a side wall 112 completely surrounding the bottom wall 111 and which is substantially perpendicular thereto.
• the inner casing 12 is in at least partial contact with the side wall 112 and with the bottom wall 111.
• the inner casing 12 will completely match the inner shape of the outer shell 11.
• the inner casing 12 is secured to the side wall 112 at the level of a plurality of adhesion zones 14 arranged on an internal face of said side wall 112.
• adhesion zones 14 have a circular shape and consist of a thermoadhesive coating, which is activated under the effect of heat.
• the inner envelope 12 comprises a peripheral border 15 protruding from the outer shell 11 and arranged mainly in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 111.
• FIG. 9 there is shown a pre-cut and pre-folded cardboard blank 20' which is intended to form the outer shell 11 of the tray 10' of Figure 8.
• This blank 20' comprises a central zone 210 of octagonal shape delimited by a lower longitudinal edge 211, by an upper longitudinal edge 213, by a left lateral edge 212, and by a right lateral edge 214.
• the lower longitudinal edge 211, respectively upper 213, is respectively connected to the left lateral edges 212 and right 214 by two lower oblique edges left 215 and right 217, respectively by two upper oblique edges left 216 and right 218.
• the central zone 210 is extended on each of its longitudinal and lateral edges by a folding flap, namely a lower folding flap 231, an upper folding flap 233, a left folding flap 232, and a right folding flap 234.
• the lower longitudinal edges and upper 211 and 213 and the left and right side edges 212 and 214 correspond to folding edges of the pre-folded blank 20' so as to allow folding of the folding flaps 231-234 in the vertical position, perpendicular to the central zone 210.
• lower and upper folding flaps 231, 233 are provided on their internal face with two circular zones 14 covered with a thermo-adhesive coating, each of said circular zones 14 being close to one of the end edges of said folding flaps 231, 233 which adjoins one of the oblique edges 215-218.
• each of the assembly tabs 235 comprises a first part 235a of trapezoidal shape connected to one of the left or right folding flaps 232, 234 at the level of one of the end edges 239 and a second part 235b connected to the first part 235a by a fold line.
• the end edges 239 correspond to the folding edges of the prefolded blank 20' so as to allow the folding of the assembly tabs 235 into a folded position in which they are oriented obliquely with respect to the left and right folding flaps 232, 234
• the second part 235b of the assembly tabs 235 is provided with a through opening 18, said through openings 18 having a circular shape substantially identical to that of the circular zones 14.
• the blank 20 in its preassembled configuration corresponding to the final shape of the outer shell 11 of the tray 10', the flaps 231, 233 being positioned substantially perpendicular to the central zone 210 and to the left and right hinged flaps 232, 234 and being in contact with the second parts 235b of the assembly lugs 235.
• the through openings 18 are arranged opposite the zones 14 so that the adhesion zones 14 are totally visible through said through openings 18.
• FIG. 8 A comparison of Figures 8 and 10 shows that the bottom wall 111 of the outer shell 11 corresponds substantially to the central zone 210 of the blank 20 'and that the side wall 112 of the outer shell 11 is defined by the meeting of the flaps 231 - 234 arranged in their vertical position, between which are interposed the assembly tabs 235.
• the blank 20 ' having in principle, in its flat configuration, a uniform thickness over its entire surface, it must also be noted that this wall side 112 has a greater thickness at the portions of the folding flaps 231-234 of the blank 20' which are superimposed with the second parts 235b of the assembly tabs 235.
• each of the adhesion zones 14 of the outer shell 11 is completely surrounded by one of said thicker portions of the side wall 112.
• the outer shell 11 shown in Figure 10 will be placed inside a thermoforming mold substantially similar to that shown in Figure 6.
• This mold can thus be formed from a matrix lower 2 and an upper die 3, said lower 2 and upper 3 die being movable relative to each other in the direction Z indicated in Figure 6 so as to allow mutual approach.
• the lower die 2 will have at least one indentation configured to receive the outer shell 11.
• Said indentation will advantageously have a shape complementary to that of the outer shell 11 so as to allow its accommodation without play inside the footprint.
• said indentation may comprise a series of four bevelled surfaces intended to support the first parts 235a of the assembly tabs 235 of the blank 20'.
• punches may be arranged projecting from said beveled surfaces.
• These punches will be intended to locally deform the outer face of the outer shell 11 when it is placed inside the lower die so that a temporary mechanical connection takes place between said outer shell 11 and said lower die. 2. These punches will therefore make it possible to maintain the outer shell 11 inside the indentations before the thermoforming mold is closed. In particular, this will avoid having to apply quick-setting glue to the overlapping surfaces of the 20' blank to maintain the 20' blank in its pre-assembled configuration.
• the upper die 3 will have at least one counterform in relief preferably having a shape complementary to that of the indentation of the lower die 2.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=72885737

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2020
  • 2020-07-17 FR FR2007502A patent/FR3112530B1/fr active Active
• 2021
  • 2021-07-07 EP EP21746081.5A patent/EP4182132A1/de active Pending
  • 2021-07-07 WO PCT/FR2021/051257 patent/WO2022013491A1/fr unknown

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