GB2436321A

GB2436321A - A packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2436321A
Application number: GB0605704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Johnathan Gray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-22
Filing date: 2006-03-22
Publication date: 2007-09-26
Also published as: GB0605704D0

Abstract

A packaging apparatus comprises a sealing means 110 to form, in use, a seal between a container 20 such as a tray and a film 40, and one or more perforation means 130, which in use, perforates a region of the film 40 that seals the container 20. The apparatus may also include means for forming a label on the film 40 and cutting means 120 that, in use, cuts the excess film 40 from the container 20. The perforation means 130 may comprise needles or lasers and the sealing means 110 may comprise a punch that urges the film 40 into contact with the container 20. In addition, the sealing means 110 may also include heating means to aid in sealing the film to the container. The sealing means 110 and perforation means 130 are preferably controlled by a controller 140. The apparatus is preferably used for packaging fresh fruit or vegetables 30.

Description

S

-1-2436321

PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus and method of packaging and in particular to a packaging apparatus and method of packaging suitable for use with containers comprising perishable foodstuffs.

b. Related Art It is common for fresh produce, such as fruit and vegetables, to be supplied to consumers in pre-sealed containers. The sealing of the container by the producer or packer prevents the ingress of dirt or foreign bodies into the produce and provides reassurance to the consumer.

The sealing of the produce can cause a problem. Once picked, fruit and vegetables release water vapour and if they are kept within a hermetically sealed container, the build-up of water vapour will cause the produce to spoil at a faster rate than if the produce were not sealed. This problem can be solved by using a permeable film that allows the water vapour to pass through the film and out of the container.

When a plant is growing the photosynthesis process that occurs within the plant takes carbon dioxide in from the atmosphere and gives out oxygen. Once a fruit or vegetable has been picked or cut then this process reverses, leading to increased carbon dioxide levels within a sealed container. If the carbon dioxide levels in the container become too high then this can also lead to the premature spoiling of the produce. It has been observed that if the atmosphere within a container can be controlled so that it contains approximately 10% carbon dioxide and 10% oxygen then the produce goes into a dormant state and does not emit 4932a2 March 2006 further significant amounts of carbon dioxide. This results in a significant decreased in the rate of decay of the produce, leading to an increased shelf life for the produce. This technique is referred to as controlled atmosphere packaging and one approach to this problem has been to use a film that contains a number of small perforations (often referred to as micro-perforations) that allow the advantageous balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen to be maintained.

A result of this is that it is necessary for packagers to hold in stock a number of different films, each of the films having different numbers of perforations, or perforations of different sizes, and to use the most appropriate film for each product being packed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging apparatus comprising: sealing means to form, in use, a seal between a container and a film; and one or more perforation means, the or each perforation means, in use, being activated to perforate the region of film that seals the container.

In a first embodiment, the sealing means may comprise a punch that, in use, mechanically urges the film into contact with the container in order to seal the container. The sealing means may further comprise heating means which can be activated to seal the film to the container. The apparatus may further comprise cuthng means for cutting excess film from the container.

In a second embodiment, the wherein the apparatus further comprises movement means for movement of the apparatus relative to the container, which preferably enables, movement of the apparatus in two orthogonal axes. This allows the container to be enclosed within the film.

4932a2 March 2006 The present invention provides the advantage that a packager needs only to stock a single type of film, which can then be perforated in accordance with the requirements of the produce that is stored within the container.

Furthermore, by integrating the perforation process with the sealing and labelling of the container, it is possible to prevent the inadvertent covering of a number of perforations by the application of a label.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of packaging a container, the method comprising the steps of: a) bringing a sealing material into the proximity of a container; b) forming a seal between the container and the sealing material; and c) forming one or more perforations in the sealing material.

Step b) may comprise applying a mechanical force and/or applying heat to form a seal between the container and the sealing material. The method may comprise the further step of d) cutting excess sealing material from the container. The number and size of the perforation(s) to be formed may be selected in accordance with the produce to be held within the container.

The one or more perforations may be formed in a first predetermined region of the sealing material. The method may comprises the further step of e) forming a label on the sealing material. Preferably, in step e) the label is formed in a second predetermined region of the sealing material, the second predetermined region not comprising any of the perforations formed in step c).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures in which: 4932a2 March 2006 Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of a packaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction of a packaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a schematic depiction of a container which has been processed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of a packaging apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 comprises pressing means 110, cutting means 120, perforating means 130 and control means 140. The control means are in communication with the pressing means 110, the cutting means 120 and the perforating means 130. In use, a container to be sealed will be passed underneath the apparatus 100 and a layer of film is received in between the apparatus and the container. Preferably the container 20 comprises a rim 22 that provides a flat surface to which the film can be secured in order to the seal the container, which ordinarily will contain produce 30.

When the control means detects that a container is in position relative to the apparatus then the pressing means is activated, such that the film is held under pressure against the container (and preferably against the flat surface of the container rim). The pressing means may comprise heating means which can be activated in order to assist in the sealing of the film to the container. Excess film can be removed from around the perimeter of the container by the activation of the cutting means. Once the film has been sealed to the container then the control means activates the perforating means 130 to form one or more perforations within the film. The number and size of the perforations that are formed is dependent upon the produce that is held within the container and the rate at which carbon dioxide is given out by the produce. The perforating means may comprise mechanical perforating means, such as needles, one or more lasers or other devices that can form perforations of a suitable size. If the apparatus comprises 4932a2 March 2006 mechanical perforating means then it is important that the perforating means do not make contact with the produce held within the container.

The apparatus may also comprise labelling means to apply a label to the sealed container regarding the container contents, weight, price etc. Such a label may be printed directly onto the film, applied to the film as an adhesive label or applied around the container in the form of a sleeve.

Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction of a packaging apparatus 100' according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100' comprises pressing means 110, cuthng means 120 and perforating means 130. The apparatus further comprises control means 140 which are not shown for reasons of clarity: the control means are in communication with the pressing means 110, the cutting means 120 and the perforating means 130. The apparatus 100' also comprises movement means 150 which enable the apparatus 100' to be moved relative to the container 20. The film 40 is stored on a reel 50 and is fed through a number of feeder rollers 60 to bring the film 40 into the proximity of the apparatus 100'.

In use a section of film is held by the apparatus and then cut using the cutting means. The apparatus is then moved relative to the container in order to wrap the container within the cut section of film. For example, the free edges of the cut section of film may be brought together at the underside of the container.

Pressure and or heat may be applied to the underside of the container to seal the film to the container. Alternatively, or in addition, the pressing means may be used to compress the film against the rim of the container and heat may be applied to further seal the film to the rim of the container.

Once the film has been sealed to the container then the control means activates the perforating means 130 to form one or more perforations within the film. The apparatus may also comprise labelling means to apply a label to the film of the sealed container.

4932a2 March 2006 Figure 3 shows a schematic depiction of a container 20 which has been processed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 shows that the container preferably comprises a rim 22 that enables the sealing of the container. The container is sealed by a region of film 41 that is connected to the container around the perimeter of the rim 22. The film 41 comprises one or more perforations 42 which allow the controlled atmosphere to be maintained within the sealed container. By appropriate selection of the number and size of the perforation(s) the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide within the container can be maintained at a level that reduces the rate at which the produce spoils, enabling the produce to remain fresh for longer and increasing the shelf life of the produce.

The number and size of the perforations required for a particular product can be determined in advance and stored in the memory of the apparatus control means.

An operator needs to select the product to be packed for the purposes of labelling and this selection can also be used to automatically select the appropriate size and number of perforations that are to be made in the film. The perforations are often referred to as micro-perforations and typically have a size of between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, or preferably between 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm. If the apparatus uses mechanical perforating means that the apparatus may be supplied with multiple sets of perforating means, each set providing a perforation of a different size.

The use of lasers to form the perforations provides an advantage over the use of mechanical perforating means as the action of the laser causes the formation of a rim around the or each perforation. This rim provides reinforcement in the region of the perforation and reduces the likelihood that a tear may inadvertently form in the film. The size of a perforation formed by a laser can be varied by the use of a focussing mechanism.

It will be understood that other means may be used to form perforations in the film, as long as the size of the perforations is repeatable and controllable, the perforation means can be integrated with the rest of the packing and sealing 4932a2 March 2006 apparatus and that the perforation means does not have any adverse effect upon the produce stored within the container.

Figure 3 also shows that a label 44 has been formed on the film 41, either through direct printing on the film or by fixing an adhesive label to the film. By forming the micro-perforations in the film during the sealing process it is possible to define a first region that is reserved for the micro-perforations and a second region that is reserved for the label. This prevents the label from being applied to a perforated region, which would reduce the benefits obtained from the use of a perforated film.

Some pre-perforated films may be provided with regions that are non-perforated, to allow the application of a label. However, the use of such films would require very accurate control of the film during the sealing process to ensure that the label was correctly fixed to a non-perforated region of the film. Such problems are avoided through the use of the present invention and the perforation of the film during the sealing process.

The present invention has been described in relation to two different packaging techniques, but it will be understood that it is capable of being used with other packaging methods and techniques. Although the preceding discussion has referred to the use of films to seal containers, there is no reason why the present invention may not also be used with semi-rigid or rigid sealing materials. In particular, there is no reason why the present invention may not be used in conjunction with the sealing techniques disclosed in the applicant's co-pending application GB-A-2 412 625 and GB 0509526.0.

4932a2 March 2006

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A packaging apparatus comprising: sealing means to form, in use, a seal between a container and a film; and one or more perforation means, the or each perforation means, in use, being activated to perforate the region of film that seals the container.

2. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises means to form a label on the region of film that seals the container.

3. A packaging apparatus according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the one or more perforation means comprise one or more needles, the one or more needles, in use being activated to pierce the region of film that seals the container.

4. A packaging apparatus according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the one or more perforation means comprise one or more lasers.

5. A packaging apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means comprises a punch that, in use, mechanically urges the film into contact with the container in order to seal the container.

6. A packaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sealing means further comprises heating means, in use, the heating means being activated to seal the film to the container.

7. A packaging apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises cutting means, in use, the cutting means cutting excess film from the container.

4932a2 March 2006 8. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 7, whereon the apparatus further comprises control means to control the activation of the sealing means and/or the perforation means.

9. A packaging apparatus according to any of claims I to 4, wherein the apparatus further comprises movement means for movement of the apparatus relative to the container.

10. A packaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movement means enable, in use, the apparatus to be moved in two orthogonal axes.

11. A packaging apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein, in use, the movement of the apparatus relative to the container allows the container to be enclosed with the film.

12. A method of packaging a container, the method comprising the steps of: a) bringing a sealing material into the proximity of a container; b) forming a seal between the container and the sealing material; and c) forming one or more perforations in the sealing material.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein step b) comprises applying a mechanical force to form a seal between the container and the sealing material.

14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein step b) comprises applying heat to form a seal between the container and the sealing material.

15. A method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the method comprises the further step of: d) cuthng excess sealing material from the container.

4932a2 March 2006 -10- 16. A method according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein in step c) the number of perforations formed is selected in accordance with the produce to be held within the container.

17. A method according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein in step c) the size of perforations formed is selected in accordance with the produce to be held within the container.

18. A method according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein in step c) the one or more perforations are formed in a first predetermined region of the sealing material.

19. A method according to any of claims 12 to 18, wherein the method comprises the further step of e) forming a label on the sealing material.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein in step e) the label is formed in a second predetermined region of the sealing material, the second predetermined region not comprising any of the perforations formed in step c).

4932a2 March 2006