FR2891257A1 - PROCESS FOR PACKAGING A MOLDED FOOD PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR A MILK PRODUCT, AND PACKAGING SUCH A PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

The wrapping procedure, especially for a moulded dairy product (10) packaged in a container with a rigid or semi-rigid base (12) and cover, uses a sealing layer (42) in two separate sections (14, 14') joined together by seals (44, 44') and peeled off to gain access to the product. The two joined sections of the sealing layer, made from paper, aluminium and plastic, are used to line the mould in which the product is shaped before packaging in its container.

Description

The invention relates to a method for packaging a product

  moldable food, including a dairy product, and a package for such a product.

  Mouldable food product shall be understood to mean products which have a liquid or viscous consistency when they are packaged in order to shape them by means of a mold, but which are likely to retain this shape under normal conditions of preservation and use. after conditioning (i.e. after crystallization, cooling, gelling, or the like effecting the texture of the product).

  This is particularly the case with butter and its derivatives or substitutes such as light butter, vegetable fats (margarine) or animal fats, as well as, in general, all dairy specialties (or other) to be spread and processed cheeses.

  These various food products are often packaged in rigid trays, but there is another form of packaging, which is of particular interest to the present invention, of presenting on a base a block of the product, molded and coated with a cover sheet for protection. An outer bell-shaped shell covers the whole to ensure the protection of the product placed on the base, before the purchase and between two uses.

  The product is generally molded in the form of a ball, that is to say a small rounded mass flattened on its underside, but this presentation is in no way limiting and other forms may be envisaged, for example a brick of parallelepiped shape.

  The cover sheet, in addition to its protective role, also plays a role in the packaging of the product, the product being metered (poured into the mold) into the dressing sheet previously shaped to the desired final shape. In other words, the dressing sheet, which is arranged so as to line the bottom of the mold after having been shaped to the desired final shape, has the primary function of containing the product during the dosing, avoiding any contact. of it with the inner wall of the mold, and give the product its final shape after crystallization (in the example of butter) or cooling (in the example of a processed cheese).

  So that the consumer can easily remove the sheet without touching the product, the Applicant has developed, and chose to implement, a few years ago a solution consisting in making the cover sheet in the form of two (or more) operculas each covering about half of the clod of the product, overlapping the central region. When he starts the product, after opening the outer bell the consumer can then easily remove one of the covers, then the other, to discover the product ball placed on its base.

  This packaging technique, where a dressing sheet is used to contain the product during the assay, has been quite satisfactory with dairy products such as butter, which are relatively viscous and adherent under the conditions of the assay. The viscosity and the wettability (surface tension) of the product during the metering are indeed sufficient to prevent any leakage of the product where the two foil covers overlap, especially at the bottom of the mold (corresponding to the top of the motte after turning).

  On the other hand, with products having a liquid or semi-viscous consistency under the conditions of the assay, this technique is not applicable because, due to the lower viscosity and / or the higher surface tension of the product, a risk of leakage of the latter between the two covers in the area where these covers overlap.

  Such a risk of leakage is not acceptable because it has serious disadvantages.

  First of all, at the time of conditioning, it introduces a risk of contamination of the bottom of the mold by the product whereas, precisely, the interposition of the covering sheet makes it possible to avoid any contact of the product with the inner surface of the product. mold.

  Moreover, if leaks occur, after conditioning the outer surface, apparent, of the dressing sheet will show traces of product. While this type of packaging is generally intended for quality products, it will result in a poor presentation, with a bold touch for the consumer at the time when it starts the product by separating the covers. Finally, the product that has leaked will be in contact with the ambient air, with the risk of degradation by oxidation resulting in rancidity, contaminations and mold formation, which must be excluded absolutely.

  For these reasons, the packaging in the form of a clump with a dressing sheet which gives the product its shape is generally reserved for butter, the other products mentioned above (light butters, margarines, etc.) being packaged in rigid containers, which do not have the aforementioned drawback.

  The tray is however a more ordinary type of packaging, little used for high-end products, and it is less convenient and attractive to the consumer than a presentation in the form of a ball placed on a base.

  There is therefore a need for a method and a packaging for packaging a very large variety of mold-shaped dairy products (or other forms) in a dressing sheet, to allow their presentation on a rigid base that can be closed by a protective bell.

  The invention proposes a packaging method and a packaging of this type, suitable for products which, under the conditions of the assay, have a liquid or semi-viscous consistency.

  The invention, as will be understood, is particularly well suited to this type of product because, by eliminating any risk of leakage to the outside of the sheet at the time of dosing, it solves the problem described above.

  However, it is not limited to this product category. It is also applicable, all the more so, to products of less soft consistency, for example butters, especially for reasons of rationalization of the production and packaging lines, by accelerating production rates and reducing manufacturing incidents. The invention relates, as indicated above, a method of packaging a food product, including dairy, soft texture in a package comprising: a rigid or semi-rigid base adapted to support a block of the product; a covering sheet in contact with the product so as to cover the surface of the block which is not in contact with the base; and an outer bell forming with the base a closed volume con-holding the product block, bell and base comprising cooperating closing means.

  The method of the invention is of the known type comprising the steps of: preparing said sheet obtained from a conformable material, this sheet defining at least two separate adjacent lids; recess the sheet in a matrix; pour into the sheet thus shaped a mass of the product; place the base on the product thus cut; return pedestal and product and separate them from the matrix; and apply the bell to the base to close the assembly.

  In a characteristic manner of the invention: in the casting step, the food product is poured in liquid or semi-viscous form into the shaped sheet; the adjacent lids defined in the preparation step are integral lids, able to ensure between them a tightness to the pro-duct when it is in liquid or semi-viscous form; and the sheet is provided in the step of preparing separating means capable of self-ridding a subsequent dissociation, by a consumer, of the attached integral caps.

  The invention also relates to a food product packaging, particularly dairy, soft texture, adapted to have the above characteristics.

  According to various advantageous embodiments: the lids are initially dissociated lids and the separating means comprise a sealing of the lids, for example an ultrasonic or thermal sealing, the subsequent dissociation being a peel or break dissociation of the sealing region ; this sealing may in particular be a seal of a back side of one of the covers on a front face of the adjacent lid; the covers are defined from the same sheet and the separating means comprise a rupture ribbon attached to the sheet, the subsequent dissociation being a dissociation by lifting the ru-ban and propagation of a tear of the sheet along this ribbon; the covers are defined on the same sheet and the separating means comprise an area of the sheet weakened by pre-cutting, the subsequent dissociation being a tear dissociation of the sheet along the pre-cut; the cooperating closure means of the bell and the base comprise, for one, a plurality of holding pins and, for the other, a cooperating discontinuous peripheral gutter, the separation of the bell and the base being obtained by a relative rotation of a fraction of a turn, with on the base and the bell facing surfaces comprising at least one frangible sealing point.

  An embodiment of the device of the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings in which the same reference numerals designate identical elements from one figure to another.

  Figure 1 is a sectional view of the packaged product in its packaging, showing the various components of the latter.

  Figures 2a and 2b are details showing the closing system and locking the outer bell on the base, respectively in the locked position and unlocked.

  Figure 3 is a detail, corresponding to the line III III of Figure 1, showing the frangible sealing point of the bell on the base.

  Figure 4 illustrates how the consumer starts the product by separating the two lids.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a first form of fastening of the covers. FIG. 6 illustrates a second form of fastening of the covers. FIG. 7 illustrates a third form of fastening of the covers.

  Figure 8 illustrates the various steps of the packaging method of the invention. 0

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 designates a clump-shaped mass of a soft-textured product, for example a lightened butter, molded into a clump-shaped form placed on a rigid flat base 12 made of plastic material.

  The product 10 is protected externally, on its surface which is not in contact with the base 12, by a covering sheet consisting of two separable lids 14, 14 '. The assembly is closed by a removable rigid bell 16. The base 12 has a flat bottom face 18 for placing it on a flat surface, on the shelf or at the consumer.

  The bell 16 comprises means for closing and locking the base which will be described in more detail, with particular reference to Figures 2a and 2b.

  The base 12 carries a plurality of lugs 20, for example three in number, having a first portion 24 directed radially inwards, extended by a portion 26 extending vertically downwards. The bell 16, meanwhile, has a peripheral gutter terminated by a flange 22 extending vertically upwards, below the first portion 24 of the lug 20. This flange 22 is discontinuous and ends with a return 28 directed radially inwards, capable of abutting against the second portion 26 of the lug 20.

  In the locked position, illustrated in FIG. 2a, each of the lugs 20 extends above the peripheral rim 22 and thus prevents the withdrawal of the bell 16.

  To open the package, the user rotates the bell 16 relative to the base 12 (rotation indicated by the arrow 30), which has the effect of bringing these two elements in the position shown in Figure 2b.

  Each of the lugs 22 will then be facing an interval 32 interrupting the peripheral rim 22, as well as a notch 34 formed at this point of the bell 16. The latter, which is no longer retained by the lugs 20 , will then be able to be freely raised and separated from the base 12.

  The reverse maneuver is done by replacing the bell in the same position and by imparting a rotational movement (arrow 36) to return to the locking position shown in Figure 2a.

  Advantageously, there is provided between the bell 16 and the base 12 several sealing points 40 (Figure 2a and Figure 3), for example ultrasonic sealing.

  This seal 40 is a frangible seal under the effect of a rotation of the bell 16 relative to the base 12, at the time of the first use. A primary role played by this sealing point is that of a burglary witness, which allows the consumer to have the assurance that his product was not opened before the purchase. The breaking point of the sealing point can in particular be done with a characteristic noise of slamming.

  The strength of solidarity by sealing is chosen so as to present a compromise between, on the one hand, a good security of the closure and, on the other hand, easy opening by all potential consumers (children, elderly).

  Figure 4 illustrates the manipulation to be made by the consumer when he wants to tamper with the product. After removing the bell, it is sufficient for him to separate the two lids 14, 14 'of the dressing sheet, thereby un-covering the clod of product 10.

  In a manner characteristic of the invention, the two lids 14, 14 'are integral in the region 42 where they overlap, so as to avoid any leakage of the product at the time of packaging, as will be explained below with reference to FIG. figure 8.

  For this purpose, the method of the invention provides for a prior preparation of the dressing sheet before shaping it for the molding of the product.

  The covers 14, 14 'can be secured in various ways, illustrated with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 (the three techniques to be described are of course in no way limiting). In a first technique, schematically represented in FIG. 5 (and also corresponding to the illustration of FIG. 4), the two lids 14, 14 'are lids that are initially distinct, pre-cut or in the form of in-line cut coils, which are made overlap two respective edges 44, 44 'in the overlap region 42. sealing is subsequently carried out in this region, at 46, which sealing may be for example an ultrasonic seal or a thermal seal.

  The seal is preferably a seal of a back side of the edge of one of the covers on a front face of the edge of the other seal, that is to say a seal of the type "leather-flesh".

  It is particularly possible to use as a packaging sheet a lacquer / printing / aluminum / polyethylene / paper / polyethylene cornplex, a structure commonly used in this type of application.

  The weld obtained achieves adhesion between two materials which a priori have no sealing property with respect to each other (the polyethylene layer is not compatible with the lacquer in the case of a thermal weld " leather-flesh "), but this adhesion is sufficient to prevent product leakage during molding, and it allows easy separation of the two parts by peelability. The mechanical strength of the weld does not need to be high (on the contrary, it prevents easy separation of the lids by the consumer); it is here sufficient to achieve the desired goal, which is to provide a leakage barrier during molding, which does not require high mechanical strength.

  A second technique, illustrated in FIG. 6, consists in defining the two lids 14, 14 'from a single sheet on which is a self-adhesive rupture tape 48 on the inside of the sheet, that is, the face that will be in contact with the product. The separation of the two lids will be obtained by lifting and pulling the end 50 of the ribbon, to propagate a tear (initiated or not by a notch) along the ribbon 48 in the region 42 where will be separated the two lids 14, 14 '.

  A third technique, illustrated in FIG. 7, consists in defining the two lids 14, 14 'from the same sheet on which is formed in the separation zone 42 an embrittlement or pre-cut line 54 in the thickness of the material, by means of a laser, a blade or other known method.

  FIG. 8 illustrates the various successive steps a to g of the process of the invention.

  The first step consists in preparing the covering sheet so as to define the two integral but separable covers 14, 14 ', for example according to one of the techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 7.

  The next step b is to fold and stamp this sheet, which was initially flat, to the shape chosen for the packaging of the product, for example the rounded shape of a clod. The sheet 14, 14 'is for this purpose plated in a socket-shaped recess 60 by means of a male stamping piston 62.

  The result is that illustrated in step g, where the cladding sheet, shaped by folding and stamping, and composed of the two sealed parts 14, 14 ', completely lines the inside of the shape imprint 60, so as to constitute a mold capable of receiving the product to be packaged.

  The next step is, at a metering station, delivering by means of a dosing hopper 64 the required amount of the product in the pressed sealing sheet 14, 14 '(the product 10). At this stage, the product is in liquid or semi-viscous form to allow the assay. The next step is, once the desired amount of product 10 is poured into the mold at a metering station, to be transferred to a base station. The laying of the base occurs just after dosing the product without waiting for the hardening of the latter (by crystallization, cooling, etc.) of the latter, by applying on the base 12 a pressure force 66 which flatten the dose of the product 10 so as to par-form the latter, as defined by the footprint 60 and the base 12.

  It is precisely at this stage of the process that, if the two lids 14, 14 'were not secured, there would be a risk of leakage at the junction between these two lids, at the bottom of the footprint 60, this risk being accentuated by the pressure to which the dose of product is subjected for the flattening of its face in contact with the base.

  The next step is to turn everything over so that the mass of the product 10 comes to rest on the base 12, and proceed to the removal of the shape footprint 60.

  In the final step g, the bell 16 is placed on the base 12, with the rotational movement required to lock in place the bell 16 on the base 12, and if necessary, formation between these two elements of a frangible sealing tamper evidence, as explained above with reference to Figure 3.

Claims (15)

  1. A method of packaging a moldable food product, especially a dairy product, in a package of the type comprising: a base (12) rigid or semi-rigid adapted to support a block of the product (10); a covering sheet in contact with the product so as to cover the surface of the block which is not in contact with the base; and an ex-dull bell (16) forming with the pedestal a closed volume containing the product block, bell and pedestal comprising cooperating closure means (20, 22), the method comprising the steps of: preparing said obtained sheet from of a conformable material, this sheet defining at least two separate adjacent covers (14, 14 '), recessing the sheet in a matrix (60), casting in the sheet thus shaped a mass of the product (10), placing the base (12) on the product thus cast, - turn base and product and separate them from the matrix, and apply the bell (16) on the base to close the assembly, 20 process characterized in that at the step of poured, the food product is poured in liquid or semi-viscous form in the shaped sheet, said adjoining foils (14, 14 ') defined in the preparation step are integral caps, able to provide a seal between them. pr when the latter is in liquid or semi-viscous form, and the sheet is provided in the preparation step of separating means (46; 48; 54) able to authorize a subsequent dissociation, by a consumer, of the adjacent integral caps.   2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lids (14, 14 ') are initially dissociated lids and said preparation step comprises a sealing of the lids, said subsequent dissociation being a cleavage cleavage or rupture of the region (46) sealing.   3. The method of claim 2, wherein said seal is a seal of a reverse side of one of the covers on a front face of the lid at-tenant.   The method of claim 2, wherein said seal is an ultrasonic seal.   The method of claim 2, wherein said seal is a heat seal.   6. The method of claim 1, wherein the lids are defined from the same sheet and said preparation step comprises placing on the sheet a rupture ribbon (48), said subsequent dissociation being an uprising dissociation. ribbon and spreading a tear of the leaf along this ribbon.   7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lids are defined from the same sheet and said preparation step comprises pre-cutting embrittlement of a zone (54) of the sheet, said subsequent dissociation being a tear dissociation. of the leaf along the precut.   8. A packaging for a moldable food product, in particular a dairy product, comprising: a rigid or semi-rigid base (12) able to support a block of the product, a covering sheet in contact with the product so as to cover the product; block surface which is not in contact with the base, this sheet being made of a conformable material defining at least two separate adjacent covers (14, 14 '), and an outer bell (16) forming with the base a closed volume -30 nant the block of product, bell and base comprising cooperating closure means (20, 22), packaging characterized in that: said adjacent covers (14, 14 ') are integral caps, able to ensure between them a seal to the product when it is in liquid or semi-viscous form, and the sheet comprises separating means (46; 48; 54) adapted to allow subsequent dissociation, by a consumer, of the attached integral covers.   9. The package of claim 8, wherein said separator means comprises a seal (46) of the covers, said subsequent dissociation being a peel or break dissociation of the sealing region.   10. The package of claim 9, wherein said seal (46) is a seal of a reverse side of one of the covers on a front face of the attached lid.   The package of claim 9, wherein said seal (46) is an ultrasonic seal.   The package of claim 9, wherein said seal (46) is a heat seal.   13. The package of claim 8, wherein the covers are defined from the same sheet and said separating means comprise a break ribbon attached to the sheet, said subsequent dissociation being a ribbon uplift dissociation and spreading. tearing the leaf along this ribbon.   The package of claim 8, wherein the covers are defined on a single sheet and said separator means comprises an area of the pre-cut fragilized sheet (54), said subsequent dissociation being a tear dissociation of the sheet along the precut.   15. The package of claim 8, wherein: said cooperating closing means of the bell and the base comprise, for one, a plurality of holding lugs (20) and, for the other, a peripheral gutter (22) discontinuous cooperating, the separation of the bell and the base being obtained by a relative rotation of a fraction of a turn, and the base and the bell have surfaces facing each other comprising at least one point of sealing (40) frangible.