FR2792297A1 - Package for fish has lower shell with projections to position support plate for fish to be packaged - Google Patents

Abstract

The fish packaging has a lower shell (1) which is thermo-formed from rigid plastics to receive the fish (2) pre-placed on a support plate (3). The lower shell is sealed under vacuum using a plastics film. The shell has a projection (13) moulded onto the opposing side-walls to centre the support plate.

Description

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  Packaging for the packaging of food products.

  The present invention relates to a packaging for the packaging of food products, of the type comprising a thermoformed lower shell made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material, intended to receive a food product previously disposed on a support plate, said shell then being heat-sealed under vacuum. thanks to

  a flexible plastic film.

  Such packaging is used in particular for packaging pre-sliced fish, in particular smoked salmon. The disadvantage is that the lower shell necessarily has a shallow depth and has rounded edges. It follows that during packaging, which is carried out continuously, the plate supporting the food product risks sliding laterally in translation inside the moving shell, thereby causing

  appearance defects or even leaks.

  The main object of the present invention is therefore to remedy these drawbacks and, to do this, it relates to a packaging of the aforementioned type which is essentially characterized in that the shell has at least one protrusion coming from molding on two of its walls. opposite sides, to ensure the centering of the plate

  support inside the hull.

  Thus, the support plate is perfectly positioned during the heat sealing operation, which results in a good quality of presentation of the product and reduces the

risk of leakage.

  Preferably, the protuberance is produced so as to present a vertical edge projecting inside the shell. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the shell is rectangular in shape and has two

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  spaced outgrowths on each of its longitudinal edges. It is also possible to provide protuberances on the four edges, but it is generally sufficient to put them in the direction of movement of the shell. In a manner known per se, the packaging according to the invention is advantageously produced continuously by means of a thermoforming machine supplied, on the one hand with a film of rigid or semi-rigid plastic material intended to form the shell, and on the other hand with a flexible plastic film

providing heat sealing.

  Several embodiments of the invention are described below by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a top view of a finished conventional packaging in which a food product is packaged ; - Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of this conventional packaging; - Figure 3 is a simplified elevational view of a thermoforming machine for continuously producing such packaging; - Figure 4 is a top view of this thermoforming machine; - Figure 5 is a top view of a packaging shell according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of this shell; - Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to Figures 5 and 6 of a first alternative embodiment of the invention;

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  - Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figures and 6 of a second alternative embodiment of the invention; and - Figures 11 and 12 are views similar to Figures 5 and 6 of a third alternative embodiment of the invention. The conventional packaging shown in Figures 1 and 2 firstly comprises a thermoformed lower shell 1 of generally rectangular shape, made from a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material. Inside this shallow shell is placed a fatty food product such as smoked salmon slices 2, previously arranged on a support plate 3. This support plate is generally constituted by a simple

  cardboard provided on both sides with a metallic coating.

  The assembly is then heat sealed under vacuum using a

  flexible and transparent plastic film 4.

  Under the effect of the vacuum, the flexible film 4 adheres to the conditioned product 2 and thus keeps it firmly in

square.

  This type of packaging is, in a manner known per se, carried out automatically and continuously by means of a thermoforming machine such as that shown in 5 in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprising a first supply reel 6 for a film of material. rigid or semi-rigid plastic 7, and a second supply reel 8 for a film of flexible plastic material 9. The rigid or semi-rigid film 7 first passes through a thermoforming station 10 where the shells 1 are formed. At the exit from the thermoforming station 10, the food product to be packaged is placed in the shells 1 thus formed, in this case slices of

  salmon previously arranged on a cardboard support.

  The assembly then passes through a heat sealing station 11

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  to be heat sealed therein by means of flexible film 9. It then only remains to cut out with a punch the individual packages thus produced in the form

of a continuous strip 12.

  However, it happens, due to the shallow depth of the shells 1, that the plates 3 supporting the product to be packaged 2 move laterally inside them during movements of the strip, before arriving at the heat-sealing station. 11, which causes appearance defects, or even leaks when the

displacement is important.

  This is why, in accordance with the present invention, provision has been made to arrange on the sides of the shell 1 one or more protrusions making it possible to maintain the plate

  support 3 in a centered position.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, these are two spikes 13 of rounded shape spaced apart on each of the long sides of the shell 1. These spikes 13 come from molding at the same time as the thermoforming operation of the shell at station 10, are preferably carried out so as to have a vertical edge projecting towards the interior of the shell, as

illustrated in figure 6.

  One could also provide pins on the short sides of the shell, but this is generally not necessary and it suffices to provide in the direction of movement of the continuous strip, that is to say on the long sides

in the present case.

  In the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, these are pins 14 of rectangular shape, while in the other variant shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pins 15 are also of

  rectangular shape, but with a beveled part.

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  Finally, the protuberance can also extend continuously, over the entire length of the long sides of the

  shell 1, as illustrated in 16 in FIGS. 11 and 12.

  The plate 3 supporting the product to be packaged 2 is thus always perfectly positioned inside the shell 1 throughout its journey to the heat-sealing station 11, which results in a good quality of presentation of the product and considerably decreases the

risk of leakage.

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Claims (5)

  1. Packaging for the packaging of food products, of the type comprising a lower shell (1) thermoformed in rigid or semi-rigid plastic material, intended to receive a food product (2) previously disposed on a support plate (3), said shell then being heat sealed under vacuum by means of a flexible plastic film (4), characterized in that the shell has at least one protuberance (13,14,15,16) molded on two of its opposite side walls, to ensure the centering of the support plate (3) inside of the hull (1).   2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the protuberance is produced so as to present a   vertical edge protruding inside the hull.   3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shell (1) is rectangular and has two protrusions (13, 14,15) spaced on each of its longitudinal edges.   4. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shell is of rectangular shape and comprises at   minus a protuberance (16) on each of its edges.   5. Packaging according to any one of claims 1   4, characterized in that it is produced continuously by means of a thermoforming machine (10) fed, on the one hand with a film of rigid or semi-rigid plastic material (7) intended to form the shell (1) , and on the other hand with a film of matter   flexible plastic (9) for heat sealing.