ITTO20070362A1 - "PACKAGE FOR FOOD, PROCEDURE AND RELATIVE EQUIPMENT" - Google Patents

Abstract

An hermetic package for food products (P), such as confectionary products, chocolates, pralines, chocolate eggs, etc., including a wrapper of sheet material airtight sealed (2) around the product (P) and having one, or preferably two, extremity portions (3) twisted bow-like according to a general candy-like configuration. The bow or each bow (3) has a distal edge (3a) with a zigzag patterned or other shaped incision (4) susceptible of providing a triggering point for the tearing of the wrapper. Preferably, the wrapping material is an oriented film.

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled: "Packaging for food products, related process and equipment"

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The invention relates to packages for food products.

Description of the relevant technique

When packaging food products, different needs must be taken into account.

A particularly felt need is to ensure that the product remains unaltered for as long as possible after packaging. In order to pursue this purpose, it has been known for some time, also in relation to small-format food products (such as chocolates, candies, pralines, etc.), to package products with sealed wrappers of the type called "flow-pack" or VFFS / HFFS (acronym for Vertical or Horizontal Form, Fili and Seal). Representative of this technique are WO-A-99/58421 and EP-A-1593 603. The latter document also illustrates the possibility of providing end weld lines (Figure 1) or longitudinal weld line ( figure 2) of the packaging of a zig-zag edge which allows to open the package by tearing the sheet material constituting the package according to a longitudinal or transverse trajectory with respect to the package itself.

There is also a fairly large line of research that aims to give traditional candy packages (ie packages with one or both ends twisted into a bow) characteristics of better insulation with respect to the external environment. Representative of this trend are, for example, the documents GB-A-993 981, US-A-5 935 686, EP-A-0 816 229, EP-B-1299 285 or W0-A-02/22445. The solution described in EP-B-1 477 423 is essentially attributable to the same trend, which combines hermetic sealing characteristics with the appearance of a traditional candy wrapper.

Purpose and summary of the present invention As stated, in the case of flowpack packages, the package is usually opened by tearing the wrapping material according to a longitudinal or transverse trajectory with respect to the package itself. In the case of candy packs, even when modified in various ways to ensure sealing qualities, the user is led to open the pack starting by unwinding the bow or bows by rotating the central part of the wrapping itself where the product is located. packaged.

In both cases, it can easily happen that the product escapes from the wrapping making it difficult for the user to prevent its unwanted fall. The risk of the product falling is even more evident in the case in which the product is small (for example a small tablet or candy) and / or when the package is opened while the consumer's attention is diverted from other operations (for example example while the consumer is walking).

Solutions such as the flowpack solution described in WO-A-99/58421, in which a transverse pre-incision is present, could virtually solve the problem of the product falling, but are critical both for the generally poor visibility of the pre-incision itself, and because the latter is likely to jeopardize the tightness of the package as it is obtained on the seal.

The present invention aims to provide a solution capable of overcoming these drawbacks.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved thanks to a package having the characteristics recalled in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention form the subject of the dependent claims. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for manufacturing the package, as well as a corresponding apparatus. The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching administered herein in relation to the invention.

In the currently preferred embodiment, in addition to overcoming the drawbacks outlined above in relation to the operation of opening the package, the invention allows to produce sealed packages of the "hermetic" type: a characteristic that is highly appreciated in the case of products marketed in humid places, as it allows the product to be isolated from the surrounding environment. This technology also allows to obtain, by using appropriate films, also an oxygen isolation and the migration of aromas.

Brief description of the accompanying representations The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example.

The description refers to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the package of the type described here, - Figure 2 schematically illustrates the construction criteria of the package of Figure 1, Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a possible sequence of opening the package of Figures 1 and 2,

- figure 5 illustrates a possible variant embodiment of the solution of the previous figures, and

Figure 6 schematically illustrates a process and an apparatus that can be used to make the packages of Figures 1 to 5.

Detailed description of examples of implementation

In the figures of the annexed drawings, the numerical reference 1 generally indicates a package of laminar or sheet material used to package a food product P such as, for example, a dragee, a candy, a chocolate, a praline or a similar product.

Even if the reference to this dimensional datum is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense of the scope of the invention, the solution described here is suitable for use also for products P of very small dimensions, such as for example confetti with a length of some units of a millimeter. Furthermore, the product P can be either single or multiple, as illustrated, for example, in EP-A-0814 030.

The package 1 essentially consists of a laminar or film wrapping material (which will be better described below) initially wrapped according to a general U-shape around the product P as schematically illustrated in Figure 2.

Subsequently, a closure line 2 is formed around the product P which extends according to a general arcuate trajectory such as to surround the product P. The aforementioned sealing line 2 (which can also have a certain width) has its ends located in correspondence of the loop portion of the U-folded sheet material around the product P.

The end portions of the packaging blank thus made (always observe Figure 2) are then subjected to a general torsional movement at one or both ends (observe the arrows F of Figure 2) so as to give the package 1 the general "candy" appearance shown in Figure 1, with a central part inside which the product P and two end parts 3 twisted according to a general bow shape.

In an embodiment which is currently less preferred, and therefore not represented in the figures, the package 1 can also have a single end bow 3.

The general construction criteria of the package 1 described up to now substantially correspond to the solution described in document EP-B-1 477 423, already mentioned in the introductory part of the present description: all the elements illustrated, described or in any case inferable from this prior document will therefore not be further described here.

An important feature of the solution described here is given by the fact that the distal edges 3a of the two flakes 3 have, instead of a general rectilinear pattern, a serrated or zigzag pattern such as to create in each distal edge 3a a plurality of notches with a throat part sharp angle. Each of these parts of the groove with a sharp angle is capable of acting as a trigger point for a tearing phenomenon of the wrapping aimed at freeing the product P from the package 1.

The sequence of Figures 3 and 4 shows how, by acting on one of the distal edges 3a, and in particular starting from one of the sharp-angled throat points of the zigzag configuration, the user who wants to open the package 1 is able to trigger a gradual phenomenon of tearing of the wrapping. Started from the trigger point mentioned above, generically indicated with 4, the tearing action proceeds according to a trajectory 40 (indicated with dashed line in Figure 3 and represented instead in solid line in Figure 4) such as to determine the gradual tearing of the package 1 along its length.

Even if this solution is not to be considered imperative (in particular in the presence of particularly thin wrapping materials), the experiments carried out by the Applicant show that, to make the package 1, it is advantageous to use as a wrapping material in foil connotable as "oriented film" , used with the orientation direction directed longitudinally with respect to the package 1, i.e. in the direction of the ideal axis around which the wrapping material constituting the package is twisted to form the end staple or flakes 3.

The term "oriented film" refers to a film material (typically a plastic material based, for example, on a cycloolefin copolymer (COC) and polyethylene) which, during production (usually by extrusion), undergoes stretching in the longitudinal direction of advancement from the extruder. This stretching makes the structure of the film material more stable with respect to any subsequent stretching in the direction of orientation: in other words, the film opposes, after being stretched, a resistance to elongation greater than the opposite one before being subjected to stretching.

In a complementary way, the film-oriented material is easier to tear in the direction of orientation. In practice, the film is less resistant to shear stresses such as to induce a tear in the direction of orientation that the film has undergone during its production phase.

In any case, whether this derives from intrinsic characteristics of the film used for wrapping, or whether the result is facilitated by resorting to an oriented film material, it is possible to find that in the solution described here, the tearing action along the line 40 triggered starting from one of the throat points of the zig zag profile (for example from the trigger point indicated by 4 in Figure 3) propagates longitudinally with respect to the package. All this (at least most of the time) without involving, if not to a fairly limited extent, the unwinding of the staple part 3 affected by the tearing action.

In the case of the solution described here, the tearing action of the staple proceeds along a line, substantially longitudinal with respect to the package, without inducing a marked unwinding movement of the staple. Moreover, while the staple 3 through which the tearing line 40 propagates may in some way be subjected to a slight unwinding, the opposite staple 3, not affected by the propagation of the tearing line, remains almost stably wound.

The net result thus achievable is represented in figure 4. Once the tearing action carried out along line 40 has crossed a good part and then almost the totality of the central part of the package (a condition represented in figure 4) it is possible to observe that the product P is still located inside the central part of the package 1, received in a sufficiently stable and safe way in the residual part of the package having a general hollow shape, held in this hollow by the two longitudinal edges of the laceration line indicated with 40 which, as schematically represented in Figure 4, advances on both sides of the product P.

The presence of the edge or of the distal edges 3a with a zig zag or similar pattern, suggests and allows the consumer, even in the presence of the twisted bow or flakes 3, to open the package 1 not already unwinding the flakes (as the consumer would be led to do with a normal candy package}, but through an induced laceration in the longitudinal direction, in turn, this laceration takes place gradually thanks to the presence of the bow through which the laceration propagates.

In this way it is possible to open the package (which, it should be remembered, in the case described here is a hermetic, airtight package) without giving rise to the unwanted risks of dispersion of the product mentioned in the introductory part of this description and without incurring in the problems encountered if a technique according to the teachings of WO-A-99/58421 is adopted.

In this regard, it is worth noting the following.

The experimental experiences carried out by the Applicant show that - with the same other characteristics (in particular with the same material and thickness of the wrapping sheet) - a package substantially identical to that illustrated here by way of example, but with edges 3a distal from The rectilinear course, without the triggering points of the laceration 4, is very often impossible to lacerate in the longitudinal direction, except by applying a very significant effort.

Moreover, the presence of a tear trigger point, such as that given by the zigzag pattern of the edges 3a, suggests to the consumer to tear the package 1 in the manner described above. On the contrary, in the presence of straight edges 3a, the consumer is inevitably led to try to open the package by carrying out the flakes 3: an operation which, in the case of an airtight package (see Figure 3), does not however allow access. to product P.

The same experimental experiences then show that the use of an oriented type wrapping material facilitates both the initiation of the laceration and its propagation through the region of the twisted staple.

It has also been found that the best results are achievable when the length of the section of wrapping subjected to twisting to form the or each staple, measured longitudinally with respect to the package (see Figure 2), has a length A between 5 millimeters and 5 .mm X (length of the product), protrusion with respect to the length X of the product P.

Figure 5 highlights the possibility of making the distal edge 3a, again with a general zigzag pattern, but with rounded notches along the outer perimeter and with sharp angles along the inner perimeter, so as to form respective trigger points 4 tearing of the packaging wrapper.

Hence the fact that for the distal edge 3a it is possible to adopt any configuration such as to create trigger points 4 for the laceration of the envelope.

Figure 6 schematically illustrates the possible manufacturing criteria for a package of the type represented in the previous figures.

In particular, in the left part of figure 6 is visible, indicated by 10 (and considered as ideally moving from left to right), a blank of wrapping material consisting of a wrapping material in sheet folded according to a general open U shape. upward.

The techniques which allow to realize, starting from a web of sheet material, a U-shaped blank of this type are well known in the art of "flow-pack" packages and therefore do not need to be described here.

The numerical reference 12 generally indicates a filling and sealing station (also of a per se known type) in which the products P are introduced into the tubular blank 10 making them penetrate inside the loop part of the blank through the edges superiors not yet connected to each other. In a manner coordinated with the filling operation, operating according to methods of the type described in the document EP-B-1 477 423 already mentioned above, the unit 12 produces around each product P inserted in the blank of sheet material the sealing line 2 which creates the hermetic seal of the package.

Subsequently, the hermetic package thus obtained is made to advance (usually after rotation of 90 ° with respect to its axis of advancement, indicated with X10, even if this choice is obviously not mandatory) towards a cutting unit 14 (for example a rotating or intermittent knives - also of a known type) which cuts the individual packages by making the distal edges 3a with the serrated profile (or similar) visible in figures 1 to 4.

Reference 16 then indicates a station for making the flakes in which, operating in a manner known per se (for example according to the methods described in the document EP-B-1 299 285), the ends of each package are subjected to twisting so as to make the end flakes 3.

The P products received in the completed 1 hour packs are then collected (usually by gravity) in a container of C.

The solution described here lends itself to a wide range of variants.

For example, the solution illustrated here provides, according to the currently preferred embodiment, that the sealing characteristics of the package around the product P are given by the sealing line 2, which tightly surrounds the product P, thus the opening pre-incisions made on the distal margins 3a, as already mentioned, do not affect the welding. Of course, it would also be possible to delegate this function to terminal sealing lines of the package (made according to criteria widely known in the art of flow-pack packages) which define the distal edges 3a by the zigzag pattern.

It follows that, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may be widely varied with respect to what is illustrated here purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, thus as defined by the appended claims.

In particular, as regards the choice of the material making up the wrapping film, different types of choices are possible, at least in principle, such as those of using polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. ) etc. A choice that proved particularly advantageous was to use a multilayer film material based on a cycloolefin copolymer (COC) and polyethylene. A film material of this type has proved ideal for the realization of the solution described herein in the context of the packaging of a wide range of products of various sizes and types such as small sugared almonds, chocolate eggs, wafer products.

Claims (21)

CLAIMS 1. Packaging for food products (P) comprising a foil material wrapper sealed tightly (2) around at least one product (P) and provided with at least one end portion (3) twisted into a staple and having a distal edge ( 3a), in which said distal edge (3a) has at least one trigger point (4) for the laceration of said envelope. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein said sheet material is constituted by an oriented film with orientation direction longitudinally with respect to the package. Packaging according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said distal edge (3a) has a general zigzag pattern with sharp-angled notches capable of forming trigger points (4) for the tearing of said envelope. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said distal edge (3a) has a general zigzag pattern, with rounded notches along the outer perimeter and with sharp angles along the inner perimeter so as to form respective trigger points ( 4) of the tearing of said casing. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said distal edge (3a) has a configuration such as to create a plurality of trigger points (4) for the laceration of said envelope. Package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said envelope has a sealing line (2) which extends according to a general arcuate trajectory around said at least one product (P). 7. Packaging according to claim 6, wherein said wrapper is wrapped around said at least one product (P) according to a general U-shape with said product (P) received in a loop part of said U-shaped configuration, and in wherein said sealing line (2) has its ends in correspondence with said loop part. 8. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein said at least one end portion (3), has a minimum length (A) equal to 5 millimeters and a maximum length (A) equal to 5 millimeters plus the dimension (X) of the product wrapped. 9. Process for packaging food products (P) in a foil material wrapper sealed (2) around at least one product (P) and provided with at least one end portion (3) twisted into a staple and presenting a distal edge (3a), the method comprising the operation of forming in said distal edge (3a) at least one trigger point (4) of the laceration of said envelope. 10. Process according to claim 9, comprising the operation of using, as said sheet material, a film oriented with orientation direction longitudinally with respect to the package. 11. Process according to claim 9 or claim 10, comprising the operation of making said distal edge (3a) with a general zigzag pattern with sharp corner notches capable of forming respective trigger points (4) for the laceration of said casing. 12. Process according to any one of claims 9 to 11, comprising the operation of making said distal edge (3a) with said distal edge (3a) having a general zigzag pattern with rounded notches along the outer perimeter and with a long sharp angle the inner perimeter so as to form respective trigger points (4) for the laceration of said envelope. 13. Process according to any one of claims 9 to 12, comprising the operation of making said distal edge (3a) with a configuration such as to create a plurality of trigger points (4) for the laceration of said casing. 14. Process according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 13, comprising the operation of making said sealing line (2) according to a general arcuate trajectory around said at least one product (P). 15. Process according to claim 14, comprising the operation of wrapping said wrapper around said at least one product (P) according to a general U-shape with said product (P) received in a loop part of said U-shaped configuration and the operation of making said sealing line (2) with its ends in correspondence with said loop part. 16. Apparatus for packaging food products (P) in a foil material wrapper sealed tightly (2) around at least one product (P) and equipped with at least one end portion (3) twisted into a staple and having a distal edge (3a), the apparatus comprising a unit (14) for forming in said distal edge (3a) at least one trigger point (4) of the laceration of said envelope. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a cutting unit (14) for making said distal edge (3a) with a general zigzag pattern with sharp corner notches capable of forming respective trigger points (4) for the laceration of said casing. 18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17, comprising a cutting unit (14) for making said distal edge (3a) with a general zigzag pattern, with rounded notches along the outer perimeter and at a sharp angle along the internal perimeter so as to form respective trigger points (4) for the laceration of said envelope. 19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 18, comprising a cutting unit (14) for making said distal edge (3a) with a configuration such as to create a plurality of trigger points (4) for the tearing of said casing. 20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 19, comprising a sealing unit (12), for making said sealing line (2} according to a general arcuate trajectory around said at least one product (P). 21. Apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a shaping device for wrapping said wrapper around said at least one product (P) according to a general U-shape with said product (P) received in a loop part of said U-shaped configuration, with said sealing unit (12) which forms said sealing line (2) with its ends in correspondence with said loop part.