FR2851552A1 - Sea products e.g. shellfish, packing container, has bottom unit lined by lateral walls, where bottom unit has uniform set of orifices which occupy surface greater than three percentage of total surface of bottom unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has bottom unit (2) lined by lateral walls (3). The bottom unit is provided with uniform set of orifices (5). The orifices occupy a surface greater than 3 percentage of total surface of the bottom unit. The bottom unit defines a surface of contact with packed products. The bottom unit is provided with a set of depressions whose walls converge towards an orifice laid out at level of their lowest point.

Description

The present invention relates to the general field of trays for

  foodstuffs. It relates more particularly to trays suitable for the packaging of seafood products such as crustaceans, such as shrimp or langoustines.

  Seafood, such as shrimp or langoustines in particular, can undergo different processing operations such as cooling, freezing, cooking, defrosting or simply warming up, between the moment of their capture and that of their presentation for sale. to the consumer.

  These treatments can be carried out using water or brine, this at a positive or negative temperature, as the case may be, the products being placed in bulk on a support or stored in receptacles adapted to each type of operation.

  Usually, crustaceans require numerous manipulations, stirring and / or transfer for this, which increases the cost of labor, leads to deterioration of the packaged products (crushing, breakage, etc.) and increases the risks of bacterial contamination. commodities.

  The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a solution which makes it possible to ensure the transport and treatment of the products in good hygienic and conservation conditions, and this by limiting their handling as much as possible so as in particular to preserve their integrity. in terms of presentation.

  To this end, the present invention provides a plastic packaging container comprising a bottom element bordered by side walls, said bottom element comprising a plurality of uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed orifices occupying an area greater than 3%, and preferably greater than 4%, of the total area of said bottom element.

  This tray not only makes it possible to transport products from producer to end consumer in good hygienic and conservation conditions, but also, thanks to the perforated bottom, to be able to subject these products to certain processing operations, without requiring any unpacking. .

  In fact, this tray allows thermal transfers and liquid flows through its perforated bottom; the packaged products can be treated with hot or cold liquids, or with steam, in order to ensure their cooling, freezing, cooking or reheating, this while preserving their integrity in terms of presentation. In addition, the relatively large perforation surface 35 ensures a homogeneous and effective treatment of the products packaged in the tray.

  Consequently, the products may be packaged raw in this tray, undergo the processing operations envisaged above, be stored, transported and presented for sale always in this same tray, without requiring mixing (s) or transfer (s) ) individual (s). For storage, transport or presentation for sale, the tray can be wrapped in a plastic film.

  Still according to the invention, the bottom element is shaped to define a contact surface with the packaged product, of point (s) and / or contact line (s) type, so as to minimize said contacts.

  According to a first embodiment, the bottom element is provided with a plurality of depressions, the walls of which converge towards an orifice arranged at their lowest point.

  According to a particular arrangement, the tray comprises a bottom element consisting of a juxtaposition of depressions each having an orifice at the lowest point; the depressions of the bottom element are advantageously juxtaposed without planar intervals, or practically without planar intervals, which again makes it possible to limit the presence of residual treatment liquids.

  According to another particular arrangement, the bottom element has depressions and bosses juxtaposed without planar intervals.

  According to a particular embodiment of this alternative, the bosses are provided with an orifice at their top.

  Still according to this first embodiment, the depressions have a polygonal or substantially polygonal base and curved inclined walls giving them a general dome shape, said depressions being separated by curved connecting lines. Possible bosses can also have a polygonal or substantially polygonal base and curved inclined walls giving them a general dome shape.

  In an alternative embodiment, the depressions have a polygonal or substantially polygonal base and flat inclined walls giving them a general shape of an inverted pyramid. The possible bosses may also have a polygonal or substantially polygonal base, with flat inclined walls giving them a general shape of a pyramid.

  Preferably, the orifices provided in the bottom element are uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed with a center distance of 30 mm 35 maximum; more preferably, the unit area of the orifices is at least 4 mm2.

  According to yet another particularity, the tray described above is produced by thermoforming of plastic material resistant to the low and high temperatures to which the seafood products may be subjected during their preparation treatment.

  According to a second embodiment, the tray object of the invention comprises a bottom element in the form of a grid, the orifices of which have a polygonal shape.

  According to a particular embodiment, these orifices have a hexagonal section to form a honeycomb type structure, and they are advantageously delimited by partitions which have a thickness less than their height.

  According to another particular embodiment, these orifices have a square or substantially square section, to form a grid-like structure. The orifices are then advantageously delimited by structures in the form of rods, the cross section of which is circular or oval.

  Still concerning trays with a grid-shaped bottom element, the dimensions of the partitions which delimit the orifices of the bottom element are adapted so that said orifices occupy an area greater than 20% of the total surface of said bottom element , and more preferably more than 50%.

  On the other hand, these trays are advantageously produced by injection molding 20 of a plastic material capable of withstanding the low and high temperatures liable to be subjected to the packaged products.

  However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description of various particular embodiments, given solely by way of examples and represented in the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a general perspective view a tray according to the invention, the bottom element of which has a juxtaposition of depressions each in the form of a dome with a rectangular or substantially rectangular base; - Figure 2 is a top view of the tray illustrated in Figure 1 - Figure 3 is a sectional view along 3-3 of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tray according to the invention, the bottom element comprises a juxtaposition of depressions of generally pyramidal shape; Figure 5 is a partial top view of the tray illustrated in Figure 4; - Figure 6 shows in an enlarged manner, and in perspective, pyramidal depressions 35 of the tray of Figures 4 and 5; - Figure 7 is a perspective view of another possible configuration of the bottom element of a tray according to the invention.

  - Figure 8 is a general perspective view of a container according to the invention, the bottom element of which has a grid structure, of the honeycomb type; - Figure 9 shows a partial top view of the container according to Figure 8; - Figure 10 is a partial enlarged view, in perspective, of the honeycomb structure of the bottom element of the tray according to Figures 8 and 9; FIG. 11 is a general perspective view of another embodiment of a tray according to the invention, the bottom element of which has a grid structure, of the grid type; - Figure 12 shows a partial enlarged view, in perspective, of the grid structure of the bottom element of the tray according to Figure i1.

  FIGS. 1 to 3 represent a packaging container 1, the rectangular bottom element 2 of which is bordered by a wall belt 3.

  The bottom element 2 comprises a plurality of depressions or recesses 4 juxtaposed without planar intervals. Each depression 4 is in the general shape of a dome, the curved inclined walls of which converge towards a circular orifice 5 arranged at its center, that is to say at its lowest point. The base of the depressions 4 is rectangular in the central part of the bottom element 1; it is partially rectangular in shape on the periphery of this bottom element, that is to say along the walls 3.

  The depressions 4 of the bottom element 1 are separated by curved connecting lines 7.

  The orifices 5 are distributed substantially uniformly over the surface of the bottom element 2. For a bottom element surface of the order of 250 cm 2, the orifices 5 can be 28 in number, each having a diameter of l '' order of 7 mm. The distance between two orifices 5 is preferably at most 30 mm.

  Each orifice 5 may be located at the bottom of dome-shaped depressions generally having a length of 3.2 cm, 1.8 cm in width and 5 mm in depth.

  The orifices 5 allow the passage of liquids, gas or vapor, through the bottom element 2, with a view to ensuring a treatment or several successive treatments of the products packaged in the tray.

  The association of these orifices 5 with depressions 4, and the presence of projecting curved connecting lines 7 intended to form contact lines with the packaged product, ensure maximum drainage of the treatment fluids and thus limit the presence of liquids. residual processing.

  The dimensions, the number and the density of the orifices 5 are adapted to ensure a maximum opening surface in the bottom element 2, while preserving 5 characteristics of sufficient resistance to the tray, in particular to meet the constraints relating to the operations of filming.

  This tray will be able to be used throughout the various operations for preparing seafood like shrimps or langoustines, in particular for their conservation before consumption, without requiring a transfer of packaging.

  As an indication, the various preparation operations can be as follows: - storage of fresh or raw products in the tray, freezing of the products, in particular by means of a brine type preparation at very low temperature, - unit packaging of the trays by filming, - cardboard packaging of the batches of trays, - unpacking of the trays, - thawing, for example by means of a brine-type preparation at room temperature, - metabisulfite treatment (if any), - cooking of the products packaged in the trays for example by means of hot water, - precooling of the products in the tray, - cooling followed by vacuum packaging and / or freezing.

  As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the mechanical strength of the tray can be increased by means of stiffeners 8 arranged on the height of the side walls 3, as well as by the presence of a stiffening skirt 9 arranged around the entire periphery upper peripheral of said walls.

  On the other hand, structures in the form of monoblock studs 10 are provided in the lower part 30 at each corner of the tray, placed in correspondence with reservations 11 arranged in the upper part, to stabilize the stacks during stacking of the trays.

  Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a tray 12 according to the invention, with a bottom element 13 comprising a juxtaposition of 35 depressions 14 each having the general shape of an inverted pyramid provided with an orifice 15 at its low point. The four flat inclined walls of the pyramids converge towards the centered orifice 15.

  These depressions 14 are juxtaposed without the presence of a planar interval, or practically without a planar interval between them, so as to limit as much as possible the possibilities of liquid retention; they have a square base which forms the support plane for the packaged products, of the contact line type. The pyramid shapes in question extend under the corresponding support plane.

  As an indication, the depressions 14 may have a square base 10 mm side and 3 mm deep; the orifices 15 may have a generally square shape from 2 to 3 mm on a side, their center distance being 30 mm maximum.

  FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the bottom element of the tray illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6.

  In this case, the bottom element 16 comprises a juxtaposition of depressions 17 and bosses 18, in the general shape of a pyramid, arranged alternately.

  The depressions 17 in inverted pyramid have an orifice 19 at their low point, and the bosses 18 in normal pyramid also have an orifice 20 at their top.

  This alternation of depressions and bosses is here carried out in a general checkerboard configuration, but it is also possible to envisage making lines of depressions separated by lines of bosses; in all cases, the general organization of the relief of the bottom element may be adapted as a function of the packaged product or products, in particular to ensure their wedging or to optimize the filling of the packaging.

  If the openings 19 in the depressions 17 are sufficient to allow the treatment of the packaged products, the openings in the bosses 18 can be eliminated.

  It will be noted that a similar alternation of bosses and depressions can be envisaged with dome reliefs of the kind of those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

  The trays illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 can be obtained by thermoforming of plastic material, such as polypropylene. The final thickness of material can be of the order of 700 to 800%. The surface of the orifices, the number of these orifices and the relief of the bottom are in all cases adapted to allow a homogeneous treatment of the products packaged with a hot or cold liquid, and to ensure optimal evacuation of said treatment liquids. In particular, it may well be envisaged to treat said stacked trays arranged in stacks. In this case, the treatment liquid is applied to the upper trays, and this liquid will then flow homogeneously through the orifices of the bottom elements, towards the lower trays, to ensure uniform treatment of all of the products.

  In addition, the corresponding bottom structure offers a limited contact surface with the packaged product or products of point (s) and / or contact line (s) type.

  FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate another possible embodiment of a packaging container 21 according to the invention having a bottom element 22 in the form of a grid, bordered by a wall belt 23.

  The bottom element 22 is provided with orifices 24 having a hexagonal section to form a honeycomb structure. Here again the orifices 24 are juxtaposed without 10 or practically without planar intervals.

  As can be seen in FIG. 10, in this honeycomb structure, the orifices 24 are delimited by partitions or walls 25 whose thickness a is less than the height b. For example, the partitions 25 can have a thickness of 1 to 2 mm and a height of the order of 3 to 4 mm; the sides of the hexagonal structures 15 forming the orifices 24 may have a length of the order of 7 mm.

  This type of structure makes it possible to obtain a very resistant bottom element 22 having a large opening surface, in particular greater than 20%, and in particular still greater than 50%.

  Yet another possible embodiment of a packaging tray according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

  The corresponding tray 26 has a bottom element 27 in the form of a grid bordered by a wall belt 28. The bottom element 27 comprises a plurality of orifices 29 of square section, forming a grid of the grid type.

  Of course, it can be envisaged to design trays in the form of a grid, the cross section of the orifices of which would be rectangular, or any other polygonal shape.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the orifices 29 are delimited by structures 30 in the form of a rod, of oval section. It may also be envisaged to produce a tray, the bottom element of which would consist of rod-shaped structures of circular cross-section, diamond-shaped or the like.

  As an indication only, the rod-shaped structures have a thickness of around 5 mm and a height of around 3 mm. The orifices 29 have a side length of the order of 10 mm.

  These trays 21, 26 with bottom elements 22, 27 in the form of a grid, described above, are advantageously obtained by an injection molding process of a polypropylene-like plastic material adapted to suitably support the conditions of positive and negative temperatures encountered. during the product processing phases. The temperatures in question liable to be subjected to the packaged products may be in a range between −30 ° C. and + 1100 C. These bottom element structures 22, 27 offer less resistance to the passage of fluids thanks to the surface occupied by the orifices 24, 29; the corresponding trays 21, 26 can then be used not only for treating products packaged by liquids, but also by gases or by steam.

  These orifices 24, 29 ensure maximum drainage of the treatment fluids and thus limit the presence of residual treatment liquid.

  The dimensions and the number of orifices 24, 29 are adapted to ensure a maximum opening surface in the bottom element, but also to limit the contact surface of said bottom element and the packaged product, while preserving characteristics of sufficient resistance to the tray, in particular to meet the constraints relating to filming and vacuuming operations.

  In particular, within the framework of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 12, the bottom element 22, 27 in the form of a grid ensures only punctual and / or linear contacts with the packaged product or products.

Claims (23)

- CLAIMS   1.- Tray for the packaging of seafood, in particular crustaceans, such as shrimp or langoustines, which tray made of plastic material includes a bottom element (2, 13, 16, 22, 27) bordered by walls 5 lateral (3, 23, 28), characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (2,13,16, 22, 27) provided with a plurality of orifices (5, 15, 19, 20, 24, 29) uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed, which orifices occupy an area greater than 3% of the total area of said bottom element (2, 13, 16, 22, 27).   2.- Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifices (5,15, 10 19, 20, 24, 29) occupy an area greater than 4% of the total area of the bottom element (2, 13 , 16, 22, 27).   3.- Tray according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (2, 13, 16, 22, 27) shaped to define a contact surface with the product (s) ( s) conditioned point (s) and / or 15 contact line (s).   4.- Tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (2,13,16) provided with a plurality of depressions (4, 14, 17) whose walls converge towards an orifice (5, 15, 19) arranged at their lowest point.   5.- Tray according to claim 4, characterized in that the bottom element (2, 13) comprises a juxtaposition of depressions (4.14) provided with an orifice (5.15) at their most point low.   6. A tray according to claim 5, characterized in that the depressions (4,14) are juxtaposed without planar intervals.   7. Tray according to claim 4, characterized in that the bottom element (16) has depressions (17) and bosses (18), juxtaposed without planar intervals.   8. A tray according to claim 7, characterized in that the bosses (18) have an orifice (20) at their top.   9. A tray according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the depressions (4) have a polygonal or substantially polygonal base and curved inclined walls giving them a general shape of a dome, said depressions (4) being separated by curved connecting lines (7).   10.- Tray according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the depressions (14, 17) have a polygonal or substantially polygonal base and flat inclined walls giving them a general shape of inverted pyramid.   11. Tray according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises bosses having a polygonal or substantially polygonal base and curved inclined walls giving them a general dome shape.   12.- Tray according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises bosses (18) having a polygonal or substantially polygonal base with flat inclined walls giving them a general shape of pyramid.   13.- Tray according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the orifices (5, 15, 19, 20) are uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed with a maximum center distance of 30 mm.   14. Tray according to any one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that it comprises orifices (5, 15, 19, 20) whose unit surface is at least 4 mm2.   15.- Tray according to any one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that it is produced by thermoforming of plastic material resistant to low and high temperatures to which seafood may be subjected during their preparation treatment.   16.- Tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (22, 27) is in the form of a grid, the orifices (24, 29) of which have a polygonal shape.   17. Tray according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (22) in the form of a grid, the orifices (24) of which have a hexagonal section to form a honeycomb structure.   18. Tray according to claim 17, characterized in that the orifices (24) of the honeycomb structure are delimited by partitions (25) which have a thickness (a) less than their height (b).   19. Tray according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (22), the orifices (24) of which have a hexagonal section, delimited by walls (25) having a thickness a of between 1 and 2 mm, a height b between 3 and 4 mm, and a length of panels of the order of 7 mm.   20. Tray according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (27) in the form of a grid, the orifices (29) of which have a square or substantially square section, to form a grid-like structure. he   21. Tray according to claim 20, characterized in that the orifices (29) are delimited by rod-shaped structures (30), the cross section of which is circular or oval.   22. Tray according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that the dimensioning of the partitions (25, 30) which delimit the orifices (24, 29) of the bottom element (22, 27) is adapted so that said orifices (24, 29) occupy an area greater than 20% of the total area of said bottom element (22, 27).   23. Tray according to any one of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that it is produced by injection molding of a plastic material capable of withstanding the low and high temperatures liable to be subjected to the packaged products.