GB2557662A

GB2557662A - A foodstuffs tray

Info

Publication number: GB2557662A
Application number: GB1621304.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maguire Ruairi; Mccaffrey Thomas
Original assignee: Quinn Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Quinn Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-14
Filing date: 2016-12-14
Publication date: 2018-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-14
Also published as: GB201621304D0; GB2557662B

Abstract

A vacuum skin pack foodstuff tray comprising: a base 110; side walls 120 comprising a sealing surface 180; a landing region 140 defining a puncture region 150 through which a needle may be presented through; and an inwardly extending shoulder 170 in which food 400 will abut prior to contact with the landing region. Preferably, a planar sealing surfaces extend continuously around top of side walls. Preferably, landing region is provided at a corner of the tray. Preferably, shoulder comprises arcuate surface extending inwardly in opposite direction to sidewalls. Preferably, puncture region and shoulder comprise co-planar surface, and shoulder is stepped relative to puncture region. Preferably, a plurality of spiked projections reduce movement of food in the base. Food stuff is placed within a tray with inwardly extending shoulder, sealing film is sealed across the top, and a needle is introduced into puncture region to create vacuum.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A foodstuffs tray

Abstract Title: Vacuum skin pack with shoulder (57) A vacuum skin pack foodstuff tray comprising: a base 110; side walls 120 comprising a sealing surface 180; a landing region 140 defining a puncture region 150 through which a needle may be presented through; and an inwardly extending shoulder 170 in which food 400 will abut prior to contact with the landing region. Preferably, a planar sealing surfaces extend continuously around top of side walls. Preferably, landing region is provided at a corner of the tray. Preferably, shoulder comprises arcuate surface extending inwardly in opposite direction to sidewalls. Preferably, puncture region and shoulder comprise co-planar surface, and shoulder is stepped relative to puncture region. Preferably, a plurality of spiked projections reduce movement of food in the base. Food stuff is placed within a tray with inwardly extending shoulder, sealing film is sealed across the top, and a needle is introduced into puncture region to create vacuum.

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Title

A foodstuffs tray

Field

The present application relates to trays for foodstuffs and in particular to an improved foodstuffs tray of the type commonly known as a vacuum skin pack tray that operably provides a sealed and vacuumed container within which food may be stored.

Background

It is well known in the food industry to provide sealed containers within which a foodstuff is retained. These containers typically comprise a tray within which the foodstuff is placed and a sealing film which is then subsequently applied to a top surface of the tray to form the sealed container. The sealing film may be secured in a variety of different ways to the tray, through the use for example of an adhesive or for example through a heat sealing process.

It is known to manufacture the tray and the sealing film from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Within the art it is known to use amorphous PET (APET) containers where there is desire for visibility of the product within the tray. It is also known to use crystalline PET (CPET) where there is a desire for the product to be used in a heat and eat application. Polypropylene (PP) is another common material for this use in manufacture of trays and as will be understood by those of ordinary skill it is also known to form sealing films from polyethylene.

Within the use of both types of PET and other plastic materials there is a requirement within the industry to apply a vacuum within the sealed container to as to improve the shelf life of the food product stored within the container. Such technology is known as vacuum Skin packaging (VSP) and provides a sealed container using a combination of heat and vacuum. This is typically effected by sealing the food product within the container and then subsequently applying a vacuum by inserting a needle or other catheter type arrangement into the body of the tray. By coupling this to a vacuum pump, the pressure within the otherwise sealed container can be reduced. As a result the sealing film will move into contact with the foodstuff and effect a vacuum seal about same. The film seals or bonds to any area of the tray that is not covered by the foodstuff.

The present inventors have realised that problems can arise with such traditional arrangements particularly where the foodstuff can move during an application of the vacuum and can become displaced across the puncture hole that is created through the insertion of the needle into the body. This can mitigate the effectiveness of the seal and can in certain scenarios result in the foodstuff within the container being exposed to the ambient conditions outside the container.

Summary

These and other problems are addressed by the present teaching by a tray which is configured to reduce the possibility of foodstuff within the tray moving into proximity with the puncture hole that is created through the vacuum application process.

Accordingly, a first embodiment ofthe application provides a tray comprising a base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, the base and side walls defining a receiving volume within which a foodstuff may be operably placed; the tray further comprising at least one landing region defining a puncture region within which a needle may be operably presented through the sidewall and a shoulder extending inwardly from the landing region and into the receiving volume, the shoulder operably providing a barrier against which a received foodstuff will abut prior to contact with the landing region.

The sidewalls further comprise a sealing surface against which a sealing film may be operably sealed. The sealing surface extends continuously around the top of the sidewalls and defines a planar contact surface against which the sealing film will operably contact. It will be appreciated that in addition typically all exposed inner surfaces of the tray provide a sealing contact surface.

The landing region is desirably provided at a corner region of the tray. The shoulder desirably comprises an arcuate surface extending inwardly from the sidewalls. The angular orientation ofthe arcuate surface is substantially opposite in direction to the surfaces of the sidewalls defining the corner of the tray. In this way the shoulder defines a step projecting into the receiving volume from the corner region of the tray.

The puncture region is desirably a planar surface and is located below the sealing surface and located inwardly from an apex of the corner region.

The shoulder has a height defined by the arcuate surface and comprises a planar top surface. This planar top surface is typically at least co-planar with the surface defining the puncture region. Other configurations could provide a step between the planar top surface and the planar surface defining the puncture region. The height of the shoulder is desirably at least as great as the thickness of the food product to be placed within the tray.

The present teaching also extends to a method of packing a food stuff within a container, the method comprising providing a tray having a shoulder extending inwardly from a corner region of the tray, the corner region further defining a puncture region, placing a foodstuff within the tray, sealing a sealing film across a top surface of the tray to create a sealed container, introducing a needle through the puncture region and applying a vacuum whereby the presence of the shoulder prevents a movement of the foodstuff within the sealed container across and into the puncture region.

Accordingly there is provided a tray as detailed in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims. The application also provides a method as detailed in claim 16.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

The present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a tray in accordance with the present teaching.

Figure 2 is a section through the tray of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the tray of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a sealed container with a foodstuff provided therein.

Figure 5 shows an underside of the tray of Figure 1 with an exploded view of a corner element of same.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

Figures 1 to 5 show a tray 100 according to the present teaching. The tray 100 comprises a base 110 and sidewalls 120 extending upwardly from the base. The side walls and base define the perimeter surfaces of the tray. The base and side walls defining a receiving volume 130 within which a foodstuff may be operably placed.

The tray 100 further comprises at least one landing region 140 defining a puncture region 150 within which a needle may be operably presented through the tray. The at least one landing region is desirably located at a corner 160 of the tray. In the example shown there are four corners and each corner comprises a corresponding landing region and associated puncture region.

A shoulder 170 is provided which extends inwardly from the landing region 140 and into the receiving volume 130. The shoulder operably provides a barrier or abutment surface 175 against which a received foodstuff (400, Figure 4) will abut prior to contact with the landing region 140. In this way the shoulder serves to prevent a food stuff 400 coming into contact with and covering the puncture region 150.

The sidewalls further comprise a sealing surface 180 against which a sealing film may be operably sealed. The sealing surface extends continuously around the top of the sidewalls and defines a planar contact surface against which the sealing film will operably contact. It will be appreciated that other exposed inner surfaces of the tray will also provide a sealing surface on contact with the sealing film.

As mentioned above, the landing region is desirably provided at a corner region 160 of the tray. The shoulder 170 desirably comprises an arcuate surface extending inwardly from the sidewalls 120 at the corner 160. The angular orientation of the arcuate surface is substantially opposite in direction to the surfaces of the sidewalls defining the corner of the tray. In this way the shoulder defines a step projecting into the receiving volume from the corner region of the tray. As is evident from the underside view of Figure 5, the shape of the shoulder region is replicated on the outer surface of the tray. As the tray is fabricated by a thermoforming process the generation of the shoulder as a projection of the side walls inwardly towards the receiving volume and away from the corner 160 results in a similar deformation of the outer side walls

The puncture region desirably comprises a planar surface 150 and is located below the sealing surface 180 and located inwardly from an apex 165 of the corner region 160. In this way the puncture region can be reliably located during an automated vacuum application process.

The shoulder has a height defined by the arcuate surface and comprises a planar top surface which is typically co-planar with the puncture region. Other configurations could provide a step between the top surface of the shoulder and the surface defining the puncture region. The height of the shoulder is desirably at least as great as the thickness of the food product to be placed within the tray. It will be appreciated that the geometry of the shoulder feature will have a corresponding affect on the geometry of the outer surfaces of the tray. In this way variations to the geometry of the shoulder region may be provided to facilitate a location of the tray within tooling equipment and to allow the use of the tray with legacy tooling equipment.

The tray further comprises at least one projection 190, the at least one projection operably engaging with a received food stuff to prevent a slippage of the received food stuff. As shown in the figures, typically a plurality of projections are provided and are located on the base of the tray. The at least one projection comprises a spiked top surface and operably the at least one projection and the shoulder operably cooperate to reduce movement of a received food stuff within the tray.

It will be appreciated that the shoulder is typically formed by a thermoforming process which can be implemented using standard thermoforming technology and techniques. The shoulder provides a structurally robust element without use of thicker sheet gauge material to that otherwise used in the formation of the tray. As is evident from the view of Figure 5 the curved surfaces of the shoulder that project inwardly into the tray result from a corresponding curved surface that is provided on the outer surface of the tray. This curved shoulder 170 provides a curved surface on both the inner and outer walls of the tray, the curved walls also provided a strengthening rib in each corner region 160 of the tray.

In sealing, the shoulder provides a large curved contact surface against which a sealing film can readily drape around thereby providing a continuous hermetic seal. The food stuff will typically not abut against all surfaces of the shoulder, with the result that the exposed surfaces are still available for sealing purposes.

The present teaching also extends to a method of packing a food stuff within a container, the method comprising providing a tray having a shoulder extending inwardly from a corner region of the tray, the corner region further defining a puncture region, placing a foodstuff within the tray, sealing a sealing film across a top surface of the tray to create a sealed container, introducing a needle through the puncture region and applying a vacuum whereby the presence of the shoulder prevents a movement of the foodstuff within the sealed container across and into the puncture region. The movement of the foodstuff is further retarded by the at least one projection that is located on the base of the tray. The strength of the shoulder region resultant from the curved surfaces that are used to form same reduce the possibility of the received foodstuff- shown in Figure 4 as a steak piece- moving against the shoulder to effect a movement of the shoulder. The shoulder has a strength that will resist such movement.

It will be appreciated that examples of a vacuum sealable tray have been described. The tray comprises at least one shoulder that projects inwardly from a side wall of the tray to create a contact surface against which a received food stuff will operably abut during application of the vacuum seal to the tray. This contact surface prevents the received food stuff moving so as to come into contact within the puncture region through which the vacuum is operably generated. Modifications can be made to the exemplary arrangement described herein without departing from the scope of the present teaching.

The words comprises/comprising when used in this specification are to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers , steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A vacuum skin pack foodstuff tray comprising:

a base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, the base and side walls defining a receiving volume within which a foodstuff may be operably placed, the sidewalls further comprise a sealing surface against which a sealing film may be operably sealed;

at least one landing region defining a puncture region within which a needle may be operably presented through the sidewall; and a shoulder extending inwardly from the landing region and into the receiving volume, the shoulder operably providing a barrier against which a received foodstuff will abut prior to contact with the landing region.

2. The tray of claim 1 wherein the sealing surface extends continuously around the top of the sidewalls and defines a planar contact surface against which the sealing film will operably contact.

3. The tray of any preceding claim wherein landing region is provided at a corner region of the tray.

4. The tray of any preceding claim wherein the shoulder comprises an arcuate surface extending inwardly from the sidewalls.

5. The tray of claim 4 wherein an angular orientation of the arcuate surface is substantially opposite in direction to the surfaces of the sidewalls defining the corner of the tray such that the shoulder defines a step projecting into the receiving volume from the corner region of the tray.

6. The tray of any preceding claim wherein puncture region is a planar surface and is located below the sealing surface and located inwardly from an apex of the corner region.

7. The tray of claim 4 wherein the shoulder has a height defined by the arcuate surface and comprises a planar top surface.

8. The tray of claim 7 wherein planar top surface of the shoulder is co-planar with the landing region.

9. The tray of claim 7 wherein the planar top surface of the shoulder is stepped relative to the puncture region.

10. The tray of any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the height of the shoulder is at least as great as the thickness of the food product to be placed within the tray.

11. The tray of any preceding claim comprising at least one projection, the at least one projection operably engaging with a received food stuff to prevent a slippage of the received food stuff.

12. The tray of any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the at least one projection and the shoulder operably cooperate to reduce movement of a received food stuff within the tray.

20

13. A method of packing a food stuff within a container, the method comprising:

providing a tray as claimed in any preceding claim, placing a foodstuff within the tray, sealing a sealing film across a top surface of the tray to create a sealed container,

25 introducing a needle through the puncture region and applying a vacuum whereby the presence of the shoulder prevents a movement of the foodstuff within the sealed container across and into the puncture region.

Go?

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1621304.3 Examiner: Mr Peter Banks

12. The tray of claim 11 comprising a plurality of projections.

13. The tray of claim 11 or 12 wherein the plurality of projections are provided on the base.

14. The tray of any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the at least one projection comprises a spiked top surface.

15. The tray of any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the at least one projection and the shoulder operably cooperate to reduce movement of a received food stuff within the tray.

16. A method of packing a food stuff within a container, the method comprising: providing a tray having a shoulder extending inwardly from a corner region of the tray, the corner region further defining a puncture region, placing a foodstuff within the tray, sealing a sealing film across a top surface of the tray to create a sealed container, introducing a needle through the puncture region and applying a vacuum whereby the presence of the shoulder prevents a movement of the foodstuff within the sealed container across and into the puncture region.

Amendments to the claims have been made as follows:

03 07 17

Claims

1. A vacuum skin pack foodstuff tray comprising:

a base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, the base and side

5 walls defining a receiving volume within which a foodstuff may be operably placed, the sidewalls further comprise a sealing surface against which a sealing film may be operably sealed;

the sidewalls defining four landing region located at each corner of the tray, each landing region having an associated puncture region within which a

10 needle may be operably presented through the sidewall to effect generation of a vacuum within the tray; and a shoulder extending inwardly from each of the landing regions and into the receiving volume, the shoulder operably providing a barrier against which a received foodstuff will abut prior to contact with the respective landing region, and wherein each shoulder comprises an arcuate surface extending inwardly from the sidewalls, an angular orientation of the arcuate surface being substantially opposite in direction to the surfaces of the sidewalls defining the corner of the tray such that each shoulder defines a curved step projecting into the receiving volume from each corner of the tray, the curved step 20 forming a curved surface on both inner and outer walls of the tray which provide a strengthening rib in each corner of the tray, the shoulder operably providing a curved contact surface against which a sealing film can readily drape around thereby providing a continuous hermetic seal for the received food stuff.

25 2. The tray of claim 1 wherein the sealing surface extends continuously around the top of the sidewalls and defines a planar contact surface against which the sealing film will operably contact.

3. The tray of any preceding claim wherein the puncture region is a planar surface and is located below the sealing surface and located inwardly from an apex

30 of the corner region.

03 07 17

4. The tray of claim 1 wherein the shoulder has a height defined by the arcuate surface and comprises a planar top surface.

5. The tray of claim 4 wherein the planar top surface of the shoulder is co-planar with the landing region.

5 6. The tray of claim 4 wherein the planar top surface of the shoulder is stepped relative to the puncture region.

7. The tray of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the height of the shoulder is at least as great as the thickness of the food product to be placed within the tray.

8. The tray of any preceding claim comprising at least one projection, the at least

10 one projection operably engaging with a received food stuff to prevent a slippage of the received food stuff.

9. The tray of claim 8 comprising a plurality of projections.

10. The tray of claim 8 or 9 wherein the plurality of projections are provided on the base.

11. The tray of any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the at least one projection comprises a spiked top surface.