IT202000009187A1 - CONTAINER FOR EXUDANT FOOD - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Context of the solution

Technical sector

The solution presented in this document concerns the packaging sector of food products. Pi? specifically, the solution presented here relates to a container (tray, tray, box, box or the like) for the packaging of food products, particularly suitable for the packaging of exuding foods (for example whey) such as (or based on) meat and fish .

State of the art

For the packaging of certain types of products intended for food? the use of containers or trays provided with a bottom and lateral walls, open at the top and which can be closed or sealed by a lid or a film, is known. These trays are of various shapes and sizes and are generally made by molding of plastic material, for example PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate).

One of the problems that arise in the packaging of food products in such containers, in particular of exuding foods such as for example meat and fish, is represented by liquid exudates (serum) that are released from food. In particular, the problem arises of being able to limit the contact between the packaged food and the liquids exuded from it, which are sources of bacterial proliferation that cause the rapid deterioration of the food, determining in particular a change in the color (example of red meat) and a rancidity of fats, reducing the shelf life or even just the satisfaction of consumers.

To avoid this phenomenon, it is known to use a pad of absorbent material, for example cellulose or other absorbent materials compatible with foodstuffs, placed on the bottom of the tray to be placed between the packaged food and the bottom of the tray itself. The absorbent material has a draining effect which prevents stagnation of liquid exudates.

Trays have also been proposed whose bottom ? equipped with alveoli intended to collect the liquid exudates of food.

Presentation of the proposed solution

The Applicant has observed that the solution consisting in the use of the mat of absorbent material entails an increase in food packaging costs (since it is necessary to produce, separately from the tray, the mat of absorbent material, which is made of a different material from that of the tray, and place it on the bottom of the same when packaging the food) and moreover it does not prevent the contact of the food with the exudates which impregnate the absorbent mat. The use of these absorbent mats is not therefore an effective solution to the problem.

As for the solution which envisages providing the bottom of the tray with blisters, the Applicant has observed that not even this solution solves the problem effectively, since the exudates of the food which are collected in the blisters hardly remain completely confined in the blisters themselves when, for example, the The tray containing the food is tilted during handling, which instead often happens during the time the food remains in the package. How already? mentioned, the contact of packaged food with exuded liquids causes bacterial proliferation. Furthermore, a darkening of the food product is observed caused by its contact with the portions of the bottom of the tray between the alveoli, which does not allow sufficient circulation of the atmosphere.

The Applicant has faced the problem of devising a solution to the above problems.

In accordance with one aspect of the solution proposed here, ? provided a container for packaging food products comprising a bottom and side walls connected to the bottom and defining, with the bottom, an internal space of the container.

The bottom of the container comprises bottom portions substantially lying on a bottom plane of the bottom of the container, and a structure for collecting and retaining liquid exudates of a food product which, in use of the container, placed in the container itself. The structure of collection and retention of liquid exudates including a multiplicity? of depressions in the bottom plane of the bottom of the container, forming alveoli intended to collect and retain the liquid exudates.

The bottom of the container comprises a structure for suspending the food product from the bottom surface, which comprises a multiplicity of elements. of protuberances which protrude from the bottom plane of the bottom of the container towards the internal space of the container to keep the food product suspended with respect to the bottom plane and away from the cells.

In other words, the bottom of the container according to the solution proposed herein comprises bottom portions lying on a bottom plane of the bottom itself; alveoli formed by depressions, depressions of the bottom with respect to the bottom plane, and protuberances, bosses protruding with respect to the bottom plane of the container. The alveoli have the function of collecting and retaining the liquids exuded by the food, while the protuberances have the function of keeping the food suspended, spaced from the bottom surface of the bottom of the container.

Advantageously, the alveoli each have a shape and size such as to retain, due to the surface tension of the liquid exudate, drops of liquid exudate collected therein even when the container is tilted.

The dimensions of the alveoli and their number are preferably designed in such a way as to be able to accommodate and retain the volume of liquid exudates which it is estimated may be exuded from the size of food that the container ? intended to contain.

For example , the blisters have dimensions such that they can each receive and hold a volume of between about 0.150 ml and 0.200 ml, for example about 0.177 ml for each single blister.

The number of alveoli foreseen on the bottom of the container? for example sufficient to cover a percentage between about 70% and about 90% of the surface area of the bottom of the container, preferably a percentage between about 75% and about 85% of the surface area of the bottom of the container, for example about 1? 80% of the container bottom area.

In exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, two cavities are provided per cm<2> of the surface of the bottom of the container.

The alveoli can have an oblong, slotted shape, with a width between 8.5 mm and 9.5 mm, a length between 4 mm and 5 mm and a depth of between 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm.

The cross section of the alveoli pu? for example be trapezoidal, sloping away from the bottom plane of the fund, with sides inclined by about 5? -5.5? compared to the ground plane.

The protuberances can have a quadrangular or cylindrical or truncated conical section, with an overall height with respect to the bottom plane between about 2.8 mm and about 3.5 mm, for example about 3 mm and a diameter between about 2.8 mm and about 3.5 mm, for example approximately 3 mm at the point with the largest diameter at their base.

The number of protuberances provided on the bottom can? be between about 70% and about 90% of the number of blisters, for example equal to about 80% of the number of blisters.

The cells and the protuberances can be arranged in respective rows, both along the direction of the prevailing dimension of the container and along the direction of the smaller dimension of the container, with rows of protuberances interspersed with rows of cells.

In embodiments, one or more can be provided on the bottom of the container. ribs (for example to strengthen or stiffen the bottom of the container) which, like the protuberances, rise from the bottom plane of the bottom extending towards the internal space of the container. For example, the ribs may extend between pairs of container sidewalls. Preferably, the ribs have a width substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the protuberances.

Thanks to the solution proposed here, ? It is possible to guarantee that, while the food remains in the package, the food does not come into contact with the liquids exuded by the food itself. At the same time, the packaged food is kept suitably suspended from the bottom surface of the tray bottom, ensuring adequate oxygenation of the lower part of the food.

Brief description of the figures

The aforementioned characteristics and the aforementioned advantages of the solution proposed here, so? as further characteristics and advantages, they will be made clearer by the following detailed description of its possible embodiments, exemplifying and not limiting. For a better understanding of the description that will come? conduct, in it you will? reference to the annexed figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a food container in accordance with a first embodiment of the solution proposed here:

Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 in plan view from above; Figure 2A shows, in an enlarged scale, a detail of the bottom of the container visible in Figure 2;

Figure 3 ? a sectional view according to the plane of trace III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 ? a sectional view according to the IV-IV line plane of Figure 2;

Figure 5 ? a sectional view according to the plane of trace V-V of Figure 2A;

Figure 6 ? a sectional view according to the line VI-VI of Figure 2A;

Figure 7 shows, in a sectional view similar to that of Figure 4, two containers like the one in Figure 1 stacked, and

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show in axonometric views three further embodiments of food container in accordance with the solution proposed here.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the proposed solution

With reference to the annexed figures, in the figures from Figure 1 to Figure 7 ? shown is a food container in accordance with an embodiment of the solution proposed herein.

The container, which in the figures ? indicated as a whole with the reference 100, ? or comprises a tray, for example made of plastic material compatible with the use for foods, for example PET.

The container 100 ? equipped with a bottom 105 and side walls 110a and 110b which, with the bottom 105, delimit and define an internal space of the container 100 intended, in use, to receive a food to be packaged.

The container 100 can? be manufactured by molding, with the side walls 110a and 110b integral with the bottom 105.

In the example considered, the container 100 has a generically quadrangular shape, with a rectangular bottom 105 whose perimeter is connected and from which two opposite walls 110a rise, in the example of greater length, and two opposite walls 110b, in the example of shorter length.

The side walls 110a and 110b can be provided with ribs or ribs 113 for strengthening or stiffening the structure.

At the top? of the side walls 110a and 110b pu? a perimeter bead 115 should be provided, useful for example for applying a closing lid or a sealing film to the container 100 (both not shown in the figures).

The four edges of the container 100 can be, as in the example shown, beveled or rounded; moreover, nothing prevents that one or more? or also all the edges of the container 100 are at right angles, that is? are sharp edges.

At the four corners of the container 100, at the top? niches 117 can be formed in the container 100 to facilitate the stacking of several? containers 100, as shown in Figure 7 (in which two stacked containers 100 are visible in section, with the upper container 100 inserted into the lower container 100).

The bottom 105 of the container 100 ? equipped with a structure for collecting and retaining liquid exudates, which can be exudated from some types of food which, when used, can be placed in the container 100 for their packaging, and with a structure for suspending the food which in the? employment will be placed in the container 100 for packaging.

The structure of collection and retention of exudates includes a variety of of cells 120 formed as depressions in a bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105 of the container 100.

The suspension structure of the food includes a variety of of protuberances or bosses 125 which protrude, protruding towards the internal space of the container 100, from the bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105, to keep the food substantially suspended above the bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105 of the container 100.

The bottom 105 also comprises bottom portions, between the cavities 120 and the protuberances 125, substantially lying in the bottom plane 123.

Are the alveoli 120 of the structure for collecting and retaining the exudates, for example, arranged in a plurality? of rows, both along the direction of the main dimension of the container 100 and along the direction of the smaller dimension of the container 100. The cells 120 of the multiplicity? for example they are arranged according to two mutually transverse alignments, in particular orthogonal, to form a matrix. Moreover, nothing prevents that, in other embodiments, the cells are arranged according to other arrangements, for example in a zig-zag pattern in one of the two directions along which one or the other or both pairs of side walls 110a and 110b extend .

The blisters 120 preferably have a shape and dimensions such as to retain inside them, due to the surface tension of the liquid exuded from the food intended to be placed in the container 100, the drops of liquid exudates exuded from the food. Furthermore, the dimensions of the cells 120 and their number are preferably designed so as to be able to accommodate and retain the volume of liquid exudates which it is estimated may be exuded from the size of food which the container 100 (based on its dimensions)? intended to contain.

For example, the blisters 120 have dimensions (length, width, depth) such that they can each accommodate and retain a volume of between approximately 0.150 ml and 0.200 ml, for example approximately 0.177ml for each individual blister.

As for the number of blisters 120 to be provided on the bottom 105 of the container 100, preferably this number? sufficient to cover at least a percentage between about 70% and about 90% of the surface area of the bottom 105 of the container 100, preferably a percentage between about 75% and about 85% of the surface area of the bottom 105 of the container 100, for example about 80% of the surface of the bottom 105 of the container. For example, in embodiments ? It is possible to provide two cavities 120 per cm<2 > of the surface of the bottom 105 of the container 100.

The cells 120 can for example have an oblong, slot-like shape. The buttonhole can for example having a width of between 8.5 mm and 9.5 mm and a length of between 4 mm and 5 mm. The depth? of the alveoli 120 pu? for example be between 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm. The cross section of the alveoli 120 ? preferably trapezoidal, sloping away from the bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105, with sides inclined by about 5? - 5.5? with respect to the ground plane 123.

For example, the slotted cells 120 are arranged so that their axis along which the prevailing dimension of the cell 120 develops extends along the direction of the prevailing dimension of the container 100.

The protuberances 125 have for example a quadrangular or cylindrical or frustoconical vertical section (that is, according to planes perpendicular to the bottom plane 123). For example, the protuberances can have an overall height (with respect to the bottom plane 123) of between about 2.8 mm and about 3.5 mm, for example of about 3 mm, and a diameter between about 2.8 mm and about 3, 5 mm, for example about 3 mm at the point with the largest diameter (at their base).

The protuberances 125 have the function of supporting the food intended to be placed in the container 100 raised with respect to the bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105 of the container 100, keeping the food at a distance from the cavities 120 to prevent the food or parts of it from penetrate the alveoli 120 themselves. Thanks to the provision of the protuberances 125, the whole lower portion of the food does not come into contact with the liquid exudates of the food itself (thereby reducing the bacterial contamination of the food), and a substantial part of the lower portion of the food remains in contact with the oxygen present in the container (in particular, for example, when the container is sealed with a lid or with a sealing film so that a protective atmosphere remains inside the container 100), and therefore the? darkening of the food. Thanks to this, the duration of the packaged food over time (so-called ?shelf life?) ? significantly prolonged.

The protuberances 125 can, for example, be arranged in rows, both along the direction of the main dimension of the container 100 and along the direction of the smaller dimension of the container 100. The protuberances 125 are, for example, arranged according to two mutually transversal alignments, in particular perpendicular, to form a matrix, with rows of protuberances 125 interspersed with rows of cavities 120 (both along the direction of the main dimension of the container 100 and along the direction of the smaller dimension of the container 100).

The number of bumps 125 to predict pu? for example be between about 70% and about 90% of the number of cells, for example about 80% with respect to the number of cells 120.

In the exemplary embodiment considered, the cells 120 and the protuberances 125 interspersed with the cells 120 are substantially arranged in three bands or bands: a central band or band and two lateral bands or bands. The lateral bands or bands are separated from the central band or band by respective ribs 130 which, like the protuberances 125, rise from the bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105 extending towards the internal space of the container 100. In the example shown the ribs 130 run along the direction of the prevailing dimension of the container 100, substantially from one to the other of the two side walls 110b of shorter length than the container 100; however, nothing forbids that the ribs 130 are made so as to run along the direction of the smaller dimension of the container 100, or that ribs 130 are provided which run along both directions. The ribs 130, in addition to having a strengthening/stiffening function of the bottom 105 of the container 100, cooperate with the protuberances 125 in maintaining the food intended to be placed in the container 100 suspended with respect to the bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105. Preferably, the ribs 130 are relatively narrow, having a width comparable to the size of the protuberances 125, to limit the surface area in contact with the food intended to be placed in the container 100, so as to limit as much as possible. possible phenomena of oxidation of the food due to lack of oxygenation consequent to the contact of the food with the surface of the ribs 130 intended to support the food itself. even more preferably, the ribs 130 have a frustoconical cross section.

In the figures from Figure 8 to Figure 10 containers 800, 900, 1000 are shown in isometric view in accordance with other possible embodiments of the solution proposed here, which differ from the embodiment of the previous figures substantially only in the dimensions (for example in the length and /or width and/or depth?). All containers 800, 900, 1000 have a respective bottom 105 provided with a structure for collecting and retaining liquid food exudates, comprising bottom portions substantially lying on a bottom plane 123, a multiplicity of of cells 120 substantially as described in relation to the previous embodiment, and of a structure for suspending the food with respect to the bottom plane 123 of the bottom 105, comprising a multiplicity? of protuberance 125 substantially as described in relation to the previous embodiment.

Claims (11)

1. Container (100;800;900;10000) for food products comprising a bottom (105) and side walls (110a, 110b) connected to the bottom (105) and defining, with the bottom (105), an internal space of the container , wherein the bottom (105) of the container comprises: - bottom portions substantially lying on a bottom plane (123) of the bottom (105) of the container, and - a structure for the collection and retention of liquid exudates from a food product which, in the use of the container, placed in the container itself, said structure for collection and retention of liquid exudates comprising a multiplicity? of depressions in the bottom plane (123) of the bottom (105) of the container, forming cavities (120) intended to collect and retain the liquid exudates, characterized in that the bottom (105) of the container comprises a structure for suspending the food product from the bottom plane (123), said structure for suspending the food product from the bottom plane (123) comprising a multiplicity of of protuberances (125) which protrude from the bottom plane (123) of the bottom (105) of the container towards the internal space of the container to keep the food product suspended with respect to the bottom plane (123) and distant from said cavities (120). 2. Container according to claim 1, wherein said cells (120) each have a shape and size such as to retain, due to the surface tension of the liquid exudate, drops of liquid exudate collected therein even when the container is tilted. 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dimensions of the pockets (120) and their number are designed in such a way as to be able to accommodate and retain the volume of liquid exudates which it is estimated may be exuded from the food size that the container ? intended to contain. 4. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blisters (120) are sized such that they can each receive and retain a volume of between about 0.150 ml and 0.200 ml, for example about 0.177ml for each single blister. 5. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of blisters (120) provided on the bottom (105) of the container ? sufficient to cover a percentage between about 70% and about 90% of the surface area of the bottom (105) of the container, preferably a percentage between about 75% and about 85% of the surface area of the bottom (105) of the container, for example about 80% of the surface of the bottom (105) of the container. 6. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two cavities (120) are provided per cm<2> of surface of the bottom (105) of the container. 7. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cells (120) have an oblong, slot-like shape, with a width of between 8.5 mm and 9.5 mm, a length of between 4 mm and 5 mm and a depth between 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm. 8. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross section of the blisters (120) is? trapezoidal, sloping away from the bottom plane (123) of the bottom (105), with sides inclined by about 5? - 5.5? with respect to the ground plane (123). 9. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said protuberances (125) have a quadrangular or cylindrical or frustoconical section, with an overall height with respect to the bottom plane (123) between about 2.8 mm and about 3.5 mm, for example about 3 mm and a diameter between about 2.8 mm and about 3.5 mm, for example about 3 mm at the point of greatest diameter at their base. 10. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of protuberances (125) provided on the bottom (105) is? between about 70% and about 90% of the number of cells, for example equal to about 8/10 with respect to the number of cells (120). 11. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavities (120) and the protuberances (125) are arranged in respective rows, both along the direction of the prevailing dimension of the container and along the direction of the minor dimension of the container, with rows of protuberances (125) interspersed with rows of alveoli (120).