FR3018777A1 - BI-COMPONENT STRIP COMPRISING AN EXTERNAL ENVELOPE ASSOCIATED WITH A PLASTIC FILM - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a two-component tray (1) of the kind comprising a bottom element (2) extended by a side wall belt (3), which tray (1) comprises an outer casing (4) having a bottom (6) ) extended by a side wall belt (7) extending to an upper peripheral edge (8), which outer shell (4) is lined internally by a plastic film (5) having a bottom (9) extended by a sidewall belt (10) extending to an upper peripheral edge (11). And this tray (1) is characterized in that said lateral wall belt (10) of said plastic film (5): (i) extends beyond the level of said upper peripheral edge (8) of said outer envelope (4), and (ii) has an inner shoulder (13), provided between the level of said upper peripheral edge (8) of said outer shell (4), and its own upper peripheral edge (11), which internal shoulder ( 13) extends over at least a portion of the periphery of said side wall belt (10) and is adapted to receive a partition element.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES The present invention relates to the general field of packaging. It relates in particular to sealed packaging trays, and more particularly those consisting of an outer casing (preferably made of fiber-based material, for example cardboard) associated with an inner film made of plastic material to ensure sealing . BACKGROUND ART Some two-component trays, for example described in documents FR-2 826 937, FR-2 972 958 or FR-2 957 054, comprise an outer casing associated with an internal lining formed of a film plastic material shaped directly in said outer casing by means of a thermoforming die associated with forming means, for example in the form of a piston or a system of depression and / or overpressure. The upper peripheral edge of the plastic film has a peripheral sidewalk. Such a tray allows the realization of packaging packaging for any type of product, in particular a food product, the peripheral sidewalk of the plastic film being adapted to receive a closure cap, for example fixed by heat sealing. The tray described in the document FR-2 957 054 has the particularity of having an internal space, formed between the outer shell and the plastic film, defining a location in which can be accommodated a reported object (for example a fork, a spoon , a towel, a sauce, or promotional coupons ...); and the outer envelope comprises means for creating an access window to this interior space, to allow the extraction of said reported object.

Such a tray structure is however relatively complex. In addition, it is necessary that the reported object is positioned in the outer casing before conforming by thermoforming the plastic film, which can be a source of stress particularly in the manufacturing process of the tray. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a new bicomponent tray structure of the type described above, comprising a location or a volume dedicated to receiving a complementary product / object reported, and making it possible to remedy aforementioned drawbacks. The two-component tray according to the invention is therefore of the kind comprising a bottom element extended by a side wall belt, which tray comprises an outer casing having a bottom extended by a side wall belt which extends up to an upper peripheral border, which outer shell is lined internally with a plastic film having a bottom extended by a sidewall belt extending to an upper peripheral edge which extends through a peripheral sidewalk extending in a plane P, which peripheral sidewalk is adapted to receive a closing cap; and said bi-component tray is characterized in that said sidewall belt of said plastics film: (i) extends beyond the level of said upper peripheral edge of said outer shell, and (ii) has a shoulder internal, formed between the level of said upper peripheral edge of said outer envelope, and its own upper peripheral edge extended by said peripheral sidewalk, which inner shoulder extends in a plane P ', on at least a part of the periphery of said belt of side walls, and is adapted to receive a partitioning element. Preferably, said shoulder extends over the entire periphery of the sidewall belt of the plastic film. Still according to another characteristic, said plane P 'in which said inner shoulder extends is parallel or substantially parallel to the plane P in which extends said peripheral sidewalk.

According to yet another feature, the upper peripheral edge of the outer casing abuts or substantially supports under said inner shoulder of the plastic film. According to a particular embodiment, the belt of side walls of the plastic film comprises a lower portion which internally doubles the outer envelope, which lower part ends, on the opposite side to its bottom, by a peripheral edge which extends outwardly through said inner shoulder; in addition, the outer peripheral edge of said shoulder is extended by an upper portion of said sidewall belt whose upper peripheral edge is extended by said peripheral sidewalk. In this context, preferably, the sidewall belt of the outer envelope flares from its bottom; in addition, the bottom, the shoulder, and the peripheral sidewalk of the plastic film extend parallel to each other; and the lower and upper portions of said sidewall belt of said plastic film flare respectively from said bottom and from said inner shoulder. The outer casing is advantageously made of fiber-based material, in particular of cardboard.

The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing this two-component container. According to a first possibility, this method comprises the following successive operations: - an operation of supplying the external envelope pre-assembled in volume, and a plastic film, - a positioning operation of said outer envelope in the base of a thermoforming die, which thermoforming die is provided with a forming shaft, which extends said base and is associated with forming means (for example a piston or a system of depression and / or overpressure), which forming well is adapted to conform said inner shoulder, said peripheral sidewalk and a part of the sidewall belt of said plastic film, - a shaping operation of said plastic film directly into said outer casing and into said forming shaft - optionally, a cutting operation of the excess plastic film at the periphery of said peripheral sidewalk and an extraction operation of the tray outside said matrix. According to an alternative embodiment, the outer envelope is made from a blank of material which is placed in volume directly in the base of the thermoforming die. Then, the plastic film is shaped directly into said outer shell and into the forming well of the die; the excess plastic film is optionally cut on the periphery of the peripheral sidewalk, then the tray is extracted outside the matrix. The invention also relates to the installation for implementing the method as defined above, this installation comprising a thermoforming die provided with a base adapted to receive the outer envelope, surmounted by a well of shaping for shaping said inner shoulder, said peripheral sidewalk and the sidewall waist portion of said plastic film between the two. The invention also relates to the product packaging, in particular for a food product, comprising a two-component container as defined above, the packaging volume of which is closed by a closing cap attached to the peripheral sidewalk, and whose The inner shoulder serves as a support for a partition element separating said conditioning volume in two.

In a particular embodiment, said internal shoulder extends over the entire periphery of the side wall belt of the two-component container, and the peripheral edge of the partition element is sealed (for example by heat sealing) on said internal shoulder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT The invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a side view of a two-component tray conforming to FIG. to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a view from above of the tray illustrated in FIG. 1; - Figure 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the tray, according to the sectional plane 3/3 of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of a packaging for packaging a product, consisting of a two-component tray as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the packaging volume is closed by a closing cap attached to the peripheral sidewalk and whose inner shoulder serves as a support for a partition element separating said conditioning volume in two; FIGS. 5 to 8 illustrate, in four steps, a process for manufacturing the two-component container illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The two-component container 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a base element 2 whose peripheral edge is extended by a belt side walls 3. In the embodiment shown, the tray 1 is generally rectangular horizontal section with cut edges at the corners.

The side wall belt 3 flares from the bottom element 2 to give the tray 1 a general truncated-pyramidal shape with cut sides. This tray 1 may have other shapes, for example devoid of cut corners at the corners.

The tray 1 comprises an outer casing 4 associated with an inner lining portion 5 formed of a plastic film. The outer casing 4 has a bottom 6 extended by a lateral wall belt 7 which extends from the periphery of said bottom 6 to an upper peripheral edge 8.

This outer envelope 4 is preferably made of fiber-based material, in particular cardboard. This envelope 4 constitutes the outer base of the tray 1 and here has a general shape truncated pyramid (horizontal section generally rectangular) with cut sides. For this, the side wall belt 7 of the outer casing 4 flares from the bottom 6. The inner plastic film 5 has a bottom 9 extended by a sidewall belt 10 extending to a upper peripheral edge 11, which extends outwardly by a peripheral sidewalk 12. This peripheral sidewalk 12 extends in a plane P which is parallel or substantially parallel to the bottom 9 of the plastic film 5 (and which is also parallel to the bottom 6 of the outer shell 4).

The width of this sidewalk 12 may be a few millimeters, for example 2 to 10 mm. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, the plastic film 5 conforms to the inner face of the outer wrapper 4, and its sidewall belt 10 extends beyond the upper peripheral edge 8 of this wrapper In addition, this sidewall belt 10 of the plastic film 5 has an internal shoulder 13 which is provided between - the level of the upper peripheral edge 8 of the outer envelope 4, and - its own peripheral edge 11 which is extended by the sidewalk 12.

This inner shoulder 13 is here provided on the entire periphery of the wall belt 10. It extends in a plane P 'which is parallel to the bottom 9 and parallel to the plane P of the peripheral sidewalk 12. In FIG. that the upper edge 8 of the outer envelope 4 is opposite the shoulder 13 and abuts or substantially bears under this shoulder 13. Starting from the bottom 9, the sidewall belt 10 of the plastic film 5 comprises a lower portion 14 which internally doubles the outer envelope 4 and which ends, on the opposite side to said bottom 9, by a peripheral edge 15.

This peripheral edge 15 extends outwardly by the aforementioned shoulder 13; and the outer peripheral edge 16 of said shoulder 13 is extended by an upper portion 17 of the wall belt 10, whose upper peripheral edge 11 (aforesaid) extends itself by the peripheral sidewalk 12. The bottom 9, the shoulder 13 and the peripheral sidewalk 12 of the plastic film 5 extend parallel to each other.

The lower portion 14 of the film 5 which is located between the bottom 9 and the shoulder 13, on the one hand, and the upper portion 17 of the film 5 which is situated between the shoulder 13 and the sidewalk 12, on the other hand , flare respectively from said bottom 9 and from said shoulder 13. The width of the shoulder 13 may be a few millimeters, for example 2 to 10 mm. The bottom element 2 of the tray 1, formed of the superposition of the bottom 6 of the outer casing 4 and the bottom 9 of the plastic film 5, is separated from the plane P 'in which the internal shoulder extends. 13, a distance d (Figure 3).

In the illustrated embodiment, this distance d; approximately corresponds to the height of the lateral wall belt 7 of the outer casing 4. On the other hand, the plane P 'in which the internal shoulder 13 extends is separated from the plane P in which the sidewalk extends. device 12, from a distance of. This distance can for example be between 1 mm and half the distance d. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, this distance is of the order of one third or one quarter of the distance d; but any other proportion may be considered.

The film 5 may be made of plastic material of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP) type having a thickness of between 0.05 and 2 mm. This film 5 can be set independently of the outer envelope 4 and secured to the latter by any appropriate means, for example by gluing. As illustrated in the following description with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, it can also be made to volume by thermoforming directly inside the outer casing 4, by means of appropriate tools, its joining with said external envelope being also performed by any appropriate means, in particular by gluing. The distance d between the bottom 2 of the tray 1 and the plane P 'in which the shoulder 13 extends defines a volume V inside the tray 1, in which a first product (by example a food product). This volume V can be closed by means of a partition element at least a portion of the peripheral periphery comes to rest on the shoulder 13. On the other hand, the distance between the plane P and the plane P in which s extends the peripheral sidewalk 12, allows to define a volume 'f within the tray 1, in which can be conditioned a second product coming to rest on said partitioning element, this volume \ f (and the tray 1 as a whole) being closed by a closing cap attached to the peripheral sidewalk 12.

A package of this kind is illustrated schematically in cross-section in FIG. 4. This package 20 comprises a two-component container 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 in the volume V from which a product is conditioned. A, for example a foodstuff. This volume V is closed by a partition element 21 whose peripheral edge rests on the peripheral shoulder 13. This partition element 21 may consist of a flat plate of material of the cardboard type; it can also consist of a film or a plate of plastic material.

This partition element 21 may simply be placed on the shoulder 13; it can also be secured to the latter by any appropriate means, for example by means of a glue reported, or by heat sealing. The corresponding connection may be provided sealed or not, depending on the intended application. The partition element 21 serves as support for one or more second products / objects B, for example one or more accessories such as fork and / or knife and / or spoon and / or towel, useful (s) for the consumption of the product A. This product / object B may still consist of a product / object advertising and / or informative, or other.

The product (s) / object (s) B is / are conditioned (s) in the volume \ f of the tray and the latter is closed sealingly by a closure cap 22, for example in the form of heat-sealed film made of plastic Such a package 20 is advantageously obtained at two different sites: one for the manufacture of the tray 1, and the other for the packaging of the products / objects A and B, with installation of the partitioning element 13 and the 22. The manufacture of the tray 1 is advantageously carried out by means of an installation and by the implementation of a method which are detailed in FIGS. 5 to 8. The installation in question comprises a matrix of thermoforming 24, formed of a lower base 25 extended upwards by a forming well 26, this matrix 24 being associated here with a thermoforming piston 27.

The lower base 25 of the matrix 24 is adapted to receive the outer envelope 4 of the tray 1 to be manufactured, and its general shape corresponds to that of the outer contours of the envelope 4. On the other hand, the forming shaft 26 which extends the base 25 is adapted to conform the upper part of the plastic film 5 which extends above the outer casing 4, and its general shape corresponds to that of the outer contours: - the shoulder 13 - Part 17 of the sidewall belt 10, and - the peripheral sidewalk 12.

The thermoforming die 24 is associated with the thermoforming piston 27 shown only in FIG. 6, of complementary general shape.

The manufacturing process of the two-component tray 1 consists first of all, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in preparing a plastic film 5 flat, and, independently, an outer envelope 4 in volume.

The outer casing 4 is positioned in the base 25 of the matrix 24 (FIG. 6); the plastic film 5 is heated and positioned above the die 24, facing the thermoforming piston 27. Before the introduction of the plastic film 5, glue is deposited on the inner face of the outer envelope 4, and / or on the underside of the plastic film 5. This adhesive can be applied by a spraying technique, or by a buffering process (that is to say a glue removal by contact with a glue buffer with the inner face of the envelope 4), or by extrusion of an adhesive directly under the plastic film.

The preheated plastic film 5 is then shaped directly into the casing 4 placed in the base 25, and into the shaping well 26 by means of the piston 27 (FIG. 7). After the thermoforming operation, or simultaneously, if necessary, the excess material is cut on the periphery of the sidewalk 12 (see the arrows marked 28 in Figure 7, which schematically this cut). The tray 1 can finally be extracted from the matrix 24 (FIG. 8). The different two-component trays obtained are stacked before being transported to the packaging site. The outer casing 4 is produced by placing a suitably cut and grooved cardboard blank in volume. Conventionally, such a carton blank advantageously comprises a central panel extended by flaps connected by means of fold lines, forming respectively the bottom 6 and the side wall belt 7 of the outer shell 4. Some walls of the side belt have extensions in the form of legs for maintaining the setting volume, after sizing.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, the outer envelope 4 is placed in volume before it is introduced into the thermoforming mold. In an alternative embodiment, there is provided a blank of material which is set in volume in the base 25 of the die 24, just before the thermoforming operation of the plastic film 5. In another embodiment, to replace the piston 27, the thermoforming operation can be performed by a suction technique applied by means of an air vacuum at the lower face of the plastic film 5, by a technique of air pressure at the level of the upper face of the film 5, or by a combination of these techniques. Alternatively, the plastic film 5 may be thermoformed beforehand, independently of the outer envelope 4, and then be reported in the latter.

Still in an alternative embodiment, the shoulder 13 of the tray 1 could be structured differently and, for example, be partial. The shoulder 13 may then for example be arranged on only two opposite sides of the tray, or be present on half of the periphery of the tray, or be formed of pads for centering a total or partial partition element. The tray according to the invention is a simple structural means for obtaining a two-component container having two volumes of packaging, for receiving two identical or different products.

Note that the support of the shoulder 13 on the upper edge 8 of the outer casing 4 provides a reinforcement of the structure of the tray. The partitioning element 21 may be a simple flat plate or may be in other forms for receiving different objects or accessories, or a product in addition to the main product (packaged in volume V). In this case, this partitioning element may have a depth that can go as far as the total depth of the tray or its packaging volume V.

The partitioning element may also partially cover the surface presented by the plane P 'defined by the shoulder 13. It is then positioned by said shoulder which will be partial, possibly by studs provided at said shoulder.

Claims (12)

1. Bi-component tray (1) of the kind comprising a bottom element (2) extended by a side wall belt (3), which tray (1) comprises an outer casing (4) having a bottom (6). ) extended by a side wall belt (7) extending to an upper peripheral edge (8), which outer shell (4) is lined internally by a plastic film (5) having a bottom (9) extended by a sidewall belt (10) extending to an upper peripheral edge (11) which extends through a peripheral sidewalk (12) extending in a plane (P), which peripheral sidewalk (12) is adapted to receive a closing cap (22), characterized in that said lateral wall belt (10) of said plastic film (5) (i) extends beyond the level of said upper peripheral edge (8) of said outer envelope (4), and (ii) comprises a substantially internally (13) formed between the level of said upper peripheral edge (8) of said outer envelope (4), and its own upper peripheral edge (11) extended by said peripheral sidewalk (12), which inner shoulder (13) extends in a plane (F) on at least a portion of the periphery of said side wall belt (10) and is adapted to receive a partition element (21). 2. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that said shoulder (13) extends over the entire periphery of the sidewall belt (10) of the plastic film (5). 3. Tray according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said plane (P ') in which extends said inner shoulder (13) is parallel or substantially parallel to the plane (P) in which s' extends the peripheral sidewalk (12). 4. Tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper peripheral edge (8) of the outer casing (4) abuts or substantially bears under said inner shoulder (13) of the film made of plastic (5). 5. Tray according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sidewall belt (10) of the plastic film (5) has a lower portion (14) which doubles inside the outer envelope ( 4), which lower portion (14) terminates, on the side opposite its bottom (9), by a peripheral edge (15) which extends outwardly through said inner shoulder (13), the outer peripheral edge (16). ) of said shoulder (13) extending through an upper portion (17) of said side wall belt (10) whose upper peripheral edge (11) is extended by said peripheral sidewalk (12). 6. Tray according to claim 5, characterized in that the belt side walls (7) of the outer casing (4) flares from its bottom (6), and in that the bottom (9) the shoulder (13) and the peripheral sidewalk (12) of the plastic film (5) extend parallel to each other, the lower (14) and upper (17) portions of said side wall belt (10). said plastic film (5) flaring respectively from said bottom (9) and from said inner shoulder (13). 7. Tray according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outer casing (4) is made of fiber-based material, in particular cardboard. 8. A method of manufacturing a two-component tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the following successive operations: - a supply operation of the outer casing ( 4) premounted in volume, and a plastic film (5), - a positioning operation of said outer envelope (4) in the base (25) of a thermoforming matrix (24), which matrix of thermoforming (24) is provided with a forming shaft (26) which extends said base (25) and is associated with forming means (27), which forming shaft (26) is adapted to conform said internal shoulder (13). ), said peripheral sidewalk (12) and a portion (17) of the side wall belt (10) of said plastic film (5), - a shaping operation of said plastic film (5) directly into said outer envelope (4) and in said forming well (26), - optionally an operation of d cutting (28) of the excess plastic film on the periphery of said peripheral path (12), and- a tray of the extraction operation (1) outside said mold (24). 9. A method of manufacturing a two-component tray according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the following successive operations: - an operation of providing a blank of material for the realization of the outer casing (4), and a plastic film (5), - an operation of setting the volume of said blank of material in the base (25) of a thermoforming matrix (24), which thermoforming die (24) is provided with a forming shaft (26) which extends said base (25) and is associated with forming means (27), which forming shaft (26) is adapted to conform to said internal shoulder (13), said peripheral sidewalk (12) and a portion (17) of the sidewall belt (10) of said plastic film (5), - a shaping operation of said plastic film (5) directly into said outer casing (4) and in said forming shaft (26), cutting (28) the excess plastic film at the periphery of said peripheral sidewalk (12), and - an extraction operation of the tray (1) outside said mold (24). 10.- Installation for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a thermoforming die (24) provided with a base (25) adapted for receiving the outer casing (4), surmounted by a shaping well (26) for shaping said inner shoulder (13), said peripheral sidewalk (12) and the sidewall portion (17) (17) of said film plastic (5) between the two. 11. Product packaging, in particular for a food product, comprising a two-component container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the packaging volume of which is closed by a closing cap (22) fixed on said sidewalk. device (12), and whose inner shoulder (13) serves as a support for a partition element (21) separating said two volume of packaging. 12. Packaging according to claim 11, characterized in that said inner shoulder (13) extends over the entire periphery of the side wall belt (3) of the two-component container (1), and in that the peripheral edge of said partition element (21) is sealingly attached to said inner shoulder (13).