JP6450326B2 - Packaged food - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates generally to packaging, and more particularly to packaged food products that can stand upright.

  Meal kits and containers for the retail packaging of food products such as meat and cheese often consist of a combination of a rigid component and a transparent flexible film cover that provide a transparent plastic pouch or sealed enclosure. Such packaging is often vacuum sealed or gas replaced and often includes additional components beyond the basic packaging structure to facilitate display of the product to the consumer in a retail setting. Such components include, for example, (1) a hang tab or other instrument to facilitate hanging the product on the peg display, or (2) a back card that can display the product with improved visibility, Can be external cardboard or other instrument. Some products are displayed at the point of sale using trays or shell freddy display shippers. While these options are effective, they require additional materials and increase not only the cost of the product, but also its volume and weight. The increase in volume and weight increases transportation and handling costs, which is undesirable from a retailer's point of view where exhibition space is limited, and from a consumer's point of view where household food storage space is limited. Additional materials as well as weight increases are also undesirable from an environmental point of view.

  Another disadvantage of external cardboard and other structures that completely or partially cover the internal package components is that they fall between the consumer and the product in a retail setting. That is, they enhance the appearance of the product at some point, but they limit the consumer's ability to view the product and can impair the consumer's tactile sensation, e.g. It can make it difficult or impossible to feel the product through.

  Provided is a packaged food product that can stand stably in an upright position from itself, i.e., configured to be self-supporting and provide improved visibility in a retail setting. In some embodiments, the packaged food product is a lightweight, rigid first wall that can be stably supported at the edges on a horizontal surface, with a pair of generally vertical side edges at both ends thereof. A first wall having a non-linear upper edge and a lower edge extending between them, a peripheral edge engaging the first wall, and at least one defining at least one food receiving area A second wall having an interior area and at least one quantity of food placed in the at least one food receiving area.

  The packaged food has a concave first surface and a complementary convex second surface configured to allow nesting of the product with other similar products. It may have. Concave and convex surfaces can be front and back, and either the front or back can be convex and the other concave. This can make the packaged food nestable and / or stackable with other similar packaged foods.

  The packaged food is curved between the side edges so that the lower edge is non-linear, the lower edge has a stabilization point between the side edges, and (1) the lower edge (2) It can be formed into an arcuate shape so as to have a depth determined by the distance between the first line connecting the terminal ends of (2) and the stabilization point. The arcuate shape can be, for example, a continuous curve with a constant radius, a curve with a varying radius, or a segmented shape with a series of relatively angled flat portions. In one particular embodiment, the arc is formed by connecting six flat surfaces. In other embodiments, other numbers of flat surfaces may be used.

  Since the packaged food product has a center of mass located between the first line and a stabilization point of the lower edge, when the packaged food product stands on an edge on a horizontal plane, A second line extending from the first line to the center of mass in a plane perpendicular to the first line forms an angle α with respect to the horizontal and the stabilization in a plane perpendicular to the first line. A third line extending from the point to the center of mass forms an angle β with respect to the horizontal, and α and β are each less than 90 degrees.

The lower edge forms an arc, and the arc may be formed by a pair of tangents at both ends intersecting at an angle θ of about 40 ° to 100 °. The package has a height of about 4 inches ( 10.16 centimeters) to about 7 inches (17.78 centimeters) , about 0.6 inches (1.524 centimeters) to about 2.3 inches ( 5. 5). 842 centimeters ) and a width of about 6 inches ( 15.24 centimeters) to about 12 inches ( 30.48 centimeters) . The width may be greater than the height and depth. The packaged food product may have a width to depth ratio of about 2: 1 to 20: 1 and a height to depth ratio of about 4: 2.3 to about 7: 0.6.

  Thus, the packaged food has a configuration that can be stably supported on a horizontal surface with a nonlinear thin edge, and this configuration requires a width sufficient to stably support the package in a linear configuration. do not do. Thus, the packaged food can be displayed on supermarket shelves without leaning on other products, walls or other structures. The packaged food composition is preferably able to remain stable and upright even when subjected to external forces such as minor pushes by consumers who take out other commodities from shelves and the like.

  The packaged food product may include meat or cheese slices or strips, diced meat or cheese, snack foods, or other food products. In some embodiments, the food product may be a single slice deli meat food product. Packaged foods can have a single food containment area and have two or more separate sealed food containment areas, one of which remains sealed with the other food containment area It can also be configured so that it can be opened. The front wall and / or the rear wall can be at least partially transparent.

The first wall can be composed of a lightweight rigid board. The second wall can be composed of a flexible film that is in the form of a food product, which allows the consumer to palpate the food product and obtain tactile feedback, for example regarding the firmness, softness or flexibility of the food product. it can. The food can be vacuum sealed in the package. The first rigid wall is made of polyester (eg, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate or APET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (eg, HIPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or styrene butadiene coextruded with a barrier and sealant layer. It can be composed of styrene copolymer (SBS copolymer) and / or other suitable materials. The second flexible film is from a polyethylene base film coextruded with an oxygen barrier, moisture barrier, additional adhesive layer, sealant, ink, easy release or antifogging layer, and / or other suitable material. Can be configured. In some embodiments, the package is from about 0.1 inches (0.254 centimeters) to about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) , preferably 0.3 inches (0.762 centimeters) to about 0.0. 6 inches (1.524 cm) also can have a thickness.

  The packaged food product can be bonded along its side edges to one or more similar packaged food products. In some embodiments, similar packaged foods are oriented the same. In other embodiments, the packages are alternately arranged such that every other package is reversed in the front-rear direction and the two combined packages are substantially S-shaped when viewed in plan view. Contributes to improved stability when the package is stood at the edge. This configuration provides an additional advantage with respect to consumer visibility of the product. The packages can have various graphics or information printed on their front and back, respectively. Also, the front and back surfaces may give a somewhat different view of the food in the package, because the opaque portions of the front and / or back walls partially obscure the viewer's view. Embodiments in which alternating packages are inverted provide the advantage that viewers can view the back and front panels simultaneously in a retail display setting.

  In some embodiments, the packaged food product can include a top wall and / or a bottom wall to facilitate stacking with other similar packaged food products. Where a top wall and a bottom wall are provided, the bottom wall of one food package 100 can be placed on top of another food package. If the packaged food contains only the top or bottom wall and not both, the top or bottom edge of each package should engage the top or bottom wall of the adjacent package above or below it Can do.

  In some embodiments, the packaged food product has a substantially vertical rear wall from the top to the bottom of a thin flexible material and a front wall of a rigid material, the front wall being substantially vertical. And may have one or more cavities defining a food containing area formed therebetween.

  In other embodiments, the front wall is made of a thin flexible material and is generally vertical from the top to the bottom, the back wall is made of a rigid material, and the back wall is substantially vertical top and bottom, and between them It may have one or more rigid cavities formed in the. In these embodiments, the one or more rigid cavities function as a food containing area and can also function as one or more alternative support portions of the package. To function as an alternative support, the one or more rigid cavities can define a back surface that can support the packaged food in an alternative position. In an alternative position, rather than being supported at the edge of the rigid front or back wall, the packaged food is placed on its back side and supported on the back of one or more rigid cavities. One or more rigid cavities can have their backs substantially flush to provide stable support in this position.

  In some embodiments, a method of providing a packaged food product as described above includes forming a lightweight rigid wall, placing the food product on the rigid wall to conform to the curved shape of the rigid wall, Overlaying the flexible film on the food and the rigid wall, and forming the packaged food having a curved shape, the flexible film is in the form of the food and the rigid wall. And vacuum sealing the food between the rigid wall and the flexible film.

  Forming a lightweight, non-planar rigid wall includes thermoforming or mechanically molding a rigid rollstock material into a generally planar shape, wherein the food product is disposed between the rigid wall and the flexible film. After the vacuum seal, the rigid wall and the packaged food are given a curved shape.

  The step of vacuum sealing the food product includes sealing the flexible film to the wall along its two or more dimensions, then drawing a vacuum, and then final sealing between the flexible film and the wall. Including the steps of:

  In some embodiments, the rigid wall can be bent or bowed at the beginning of the process, and the step of vacuum sealing the food between the rigid wall and the flexible film is curved during sealing. A sealing head that is curved in the same way as a rigid wall can be used. In other embodiments, vacuum sealing the food product between the rigid wall and the flexible film includes temporarily straightening the food package to provide a vacuum seal.

  The method may further include placing a second flexible film on the opposite side of the rigid wall from the first flexible film. Vacuum sealing the food product between the rigid wall and the flexible film partially seals the first flexible film to the second flexible film and then removes the air surrounding the food product For this purpose, a vacuum may be applied, and then the sealing between the first flexible film and the second flexible film may be completed. The method may further include trimming the edges of the first and second flexible films after completion of sealing, the trimming step using straight cut edges to package the packaged food. A step of temporarily straightening can be included, and a curved cutting instrument can be used to eliminate the need to straighten the packaged food.

  The method can further include providing means for facilitating initial opening and / or sealing of the package, such as a peelable seal, a sealable peelable seal, a zipper or other function.

  In some embodiments, at least one surface of the food packaged with a printed flexible film to facilitate the display of brand information, product information, attractive graphics, or other content. And a pressure sensitive label can be attached to at least one side of the packaged food.

 The method described above is preferably used for high-speed commercial packaging processes in food plants suitable for mass production of packaged foods in a frozen environment. In some embodiments, a plurality of packaged foods can be nested and transported to a delivery place or retail store where they are non-planar lightweight on the horizontal surface of a retail exhibit without external support It can be displayed upright with curved edges of rigid walls. Packaged foods can remain nested at the retail exhibit or can be de-nested for display.

It is a perspective view of the packaged foodstuff by 1st Embodiment. FIG. It is a perspective view of the packaged foodstuff by 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view of a 3rd embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the packaged food of FIG. 1. FIG. It is the left view. It is the right view. It is the schematic right view. It is a top view of a 4th embodiment. It is a top view of a 5th embodiment. It is a top view of a 6th embodiment. It is a perspective view of 7th Embodiment. It is a perspective view of 8th Embodiment. It is a perspective view of 9th Embodiment. It is a perspective view of 10th Embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a packaged food product. It is a flowchart which shows the method of manufacturing the packaged foodstuff, shipping, and displaying. It is a top view of 11th Embodiment.

  Elements in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for clarity. Although some operations and / or steps may be described and depicted in a particular order of occurrence, no ordering specificity is actually required.

  FIG. 1 shows a packaged food product 100 that includes a package 102 that includes a lightweight, rigid first or back wall 110 that can stably support the package at its edges on a horizontal surface. Packaged food product 100 has a pair of generally vertical side edges 115 and a curved lower edge 120 and upper edge 130 curved therebetween. The second or front wall 140 has a peripheral edge that engages the rear wall 110 and at least one central portion that is remote from the rear wall to define at least one internal food receiving area 145. A quantity of food 150 is placed in the food containing area 145.

The packaged food 100 has a width w determined by the distance between the side edges 115 and a height h determined by the length of the side edges 115. In some embodiments, the food package 100 is about 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) to about 7 inches (17.78 centimeters) high and about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) to about 12 inches. It has a width of (30.48 centimeters) . In some embodiments, the food package 100 has a depth of about 0.6 inches (1.524 centimeters) to about 2.3 inches (5.842 centimeters) . These dimensions are given for illustrative purposes only, and the actual dimensions of the package 100 may differ from those described above.

  Packaged foods are described in relation to front, back, top, bottom for convenience to describe the relationship between various surfaces and relative dimensions, but the terms top, bottom, front, back, back, etc. Use is not intended to be limiting with respect to the exhibition. That is, the packaged food can be displayed in various orientations with the front (front), back (back), top, edge, or other surface facing the front of the shelf, and graphic on either surface Can be provided, or any surface can be designed for consumer display.

  In some embodiments, the front surface of the packaged food can be concave and the complementary back surface can be convex. In some other embodiments, the front surface can be convex and the rear surface can be concave. Either configuration allows the product 100 to be nested with other similar products, so a large number of products 100, for example 10, 20, 40 or more products, are shipped or displayed at the front of each product next to the next product. Nesting in contact with the rear surface can reduce the total footprint and volume of packages shipped or displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the product 100 has an arcuate portion 170 formed by bending backward between the side edges 115. In this configuration, the product 100 has a depth d determined by the distance between the line 173 connecting the end points 171 and 172 of the lower edge 120 and the point on the lower edge farthest from this line, that is, the last point 125, The last point 125 can be said to be a stabilization point.

  In some examples, the arcuate 170 is a constant radius smooth continuous curve as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a variable radius curve, or a series of flats that are angled and continuous as shown in FIG. It may consist of a segmented shape of parts or a combination of a series of flat and curved parts that are angled and continuous with each other. In one particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4, six flat surfaces 128 are connected to form an arcuate portion 170. In other embodiments, fewer or more flat surfaces can be used.

  1, 2, and 9, the food package 100 has a center of mass 160 located behind the line 173 connecting the corner points 171, 172 at the lower edge and in front of the stabilization point 125. When the package 100 stands at an edge on a horizontal plane, a second line 174 extending from the first line 173 to the center of mass 160 in a plane perpendicular to the first line 173 forms an angle α with respect to the horizontal, A third line 176 extending from the stabilization point 125 to the center of mass 160 in a plane perpendicular to the first line forms an angle β with respect to the horizontal, and α and β are each less than 90 °. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arc formed by the lower edge 120 can be an arc such that a pair of tangents of the arc at the end point intersect at an angle θ of about 40 ° to about 100 °.

  In some embodiments, the package 100 may have a width dimension that is greater than a height and depth dimension. For example, in some embodiments, the packaged food product can have a width to depth ratio of about 2: 1 to 20: 1 and a height of about 4: 2.3 to 7: 0.6. It can be a depth-to-depth ratio.

  Packaged food product 100 may include a food product 150, such as a slice or strip of meat or cheese, a diced meat or cheese, a snack food, or other food. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-8 and 12, the food product 150 may be a single slice deli meat product. The food package 100 can have a single food storage area 145, and can have two or more separate sealed food storage areas 145, as shown in FIG. Can be configured to be opened or separated from the package 100 while still sealed. In some embodiments, the food package 100 is provided with a line of weakness 146, such as a laser score or perforation, between them to facilitate separation of the food containing area 145.

  The front wall 140 and / or the rear wall 110 can be at least partially transparent and can include graphics suitable for presentation in an exhibition setting. In some embodiments, one of the front and rear walls can be transparent and the other wall can present relevant information that is easily viewable by the consumer in a retail setting. In such a configuration, either the front wall 140 or the rear wall 110 can be displayed to the consumer.

The first wall 110 can be composed of a lightweight rigid material such as cardboard formed as part of a cylinder. The front wall 140 can be composed of a flexible film in the form of food 150 so that the consumer can palpate the food and obtain tactile feedback regarding, for example, the firmness, softness or flexibility of the food. it can. In some embodiments, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the package is between about 0.1 inches (0.254 centimeters) to about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) , preferably about 0.3 inches. Inches ( 0.762 centimeters ) to about 0.6 inches (1.524 centimeters) in total thickness t, and the front wall 140 has a thickness of about 12 mils (0.3048 millimeters) or less, The rear wall 110 has a thickness of about 12 mils (0.3048 millimeters) to 40 mils (1.016 millimeters) , preferably about 24 mils (0.6096 millimeters) -30 mils ( 0.762 millimeters) .

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in some embodiments, two or more packaged foods similar to those described above can be combined. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, the two products (packaged foods) 180 and 182 have a convex portion of the first package on the same side as the convex portion of the second package. Directed to be located. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the packaged foods 184 and 186 are alternately positioned so that every other package is upside down. In this configuration, the two combined packages have a generally S-shaped shape when viewed in a plane, which contributes to improved stability when the package stands at the edge. In this case, the convex portion of the first package is located on the side opposite to the protruding portion of the combined package. In such a shape, the fragile connection portion 188 can make the packages separable from each other.

  This configuration provides an additional advantage with respect to consumer visibility of the product. The packages can have various graphics or information printed on their front and back, respectively. Also, the front 190 and back 192 may provide a somewhat different view of the food in the package because the opaque portions of the front and / or back wall partially obscure the viewer's view. Embodiments in which alternating packages are inverted provide the advantage that viewers can view back panel 192 and front panel 190 simultaneously in a retail display setting. For example, the front panel can provide the consumer with the name of the product and a direct view, while the back panel can provide the consumer with nutritional components or other types of information. Thus, in some embodiments, the consumer does not need to physically move the package to obtain the necessary information about the product, which reduces the amount of package handling received during the exhibition and The need to relocate those products is reduced.

  In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 13-16, the packaged food product 10 has a plurality of rigid compartments joined to a rigid back wall 110 that is generally similar to that described for the first embodiment. 145 can be provided. The rigid compartment can be formed into a food retaining shape by thermoforming, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding or other methods. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the compartments can be arranged in upper and lower arrays 194 and 196 of a plurality of compartments, each array being arranged in a plurality of rows arranged in a horizontal row or otherwise arranged. A compartment 145 is provided. As shown, each array can include a flange 198 joined to the rigid wall 110.

  In some embodiments, the product 100 can also include a bottom wall 127 and / or a top wall 137 to facilitate stacking with other similar packaged foods. As shown in FIG. 14, when both a top wall 137 and a bottom wall 127 are provided, the bottom wall 127 of one food package 100 is placed on the top wall 137 of another food package 100 and a number of parameters are set in retail. Can be exhibited in the environment. If the food package 100 includes only the top wall 137 or only the bottom wall 127, but not both, the top edge 130 or the bottom edge 120 of each package is the top wall 137 or bottom wall of the adjacent package 100 above or below it. 127 can be engaged.

  In some embodiments, such as the embodiment of FIG. 15, the curved front wall 140 is made of a thin flexible material, the rear wall 110 is made of a rigid material, and the rear wall has a peripheral flange 226 (FIG. 15). In addition, one or more rigid cavities 145 may be formed between the front wall. This product can be displayed vertically with curved front wall 140 and rear wall flange 226, and also serves as one or more food containment areas and as one or more alternative supports for the package As shown in FIG. The one or more rigid cavities 145 include one or more surfaces 147 that can support the food package 100 individually or collectively on the horizontal surface 234 in the orientation shown in FIG. In this orientation, it is not supported at the front and / or rear wall edges for retail display, and the packaged food is placed on its front or back side and supported on the front or back of the rigid cavity. Where more than one cavity 145 is provided, the cavity can have a substantially coplanar rear surface 147. In some embodiments, the curved front and / or rear wall side edges may be coplanar with the rear surface, thereby providing additional support and stability to this alternative oriented package.

  The front wall 140 and the rear wall 110 can be made of any suitable material. For example, these materials can include various polymers, multilayer laminates or coextruded polyethylene-based films, and can include one or more moisture barriers, oxygen barriers, adhesive layers, antifogging layers, and / or other adhesive layers. , Ink, or easy release layer. The back wall 110 may be co-polymerized with polyester (eg, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate or APET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (eg, HIPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or barrier and sealant layers and / or other suitable materials. It can be composed of an extruded styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS copolymer). To open the package of FIG. 15, the thin flexible front wall 140 can be peeled from the flange 226. The package can be resealable and a resealable peelable adhesive can be used to seal the front wall 140 to the back wall 110.

  In other embodiments, as shown for illustrative purposes in FIG. 16, the food package 100 includes a rear wall 110 made of a thin flexible material that is substantially vertical from the top to the bottom and a front wall 140 made of a rigid material. The front wall 140 has a peripheral flange portion 226 with a generally vertical upper portion 228, a lower portion 230, and side portions 232 that surround one or more cavities that provide a food containing area 145. These food containing areas may have the same shape and size or may be changed. The food package 100 can include any number of food storage areas 145.

  In some embodiments, the front wall 140 and the back wall 110 of the food package 100 are bonded together by applying a conventional hot melt or glue. The food containing area 145 can be replaced with gas. The food product 150 can be vacuum sealed and then placed in the food containing area of the food package 100, and then the front and back walls can be bonded together.

  In some embodiments, the package can include color, graphics, text, design, and / or other content on its entire surface or on a predetermined portion. For example, the content can include brand information, opening instructions, ingredients, nutritional ingredients, and other information. The content can be embossed and / or printed on the package or on a label attached to the package.

  In some retail settings, horizontal shelf space may be limited, which may reduce the number of food packages that can be placed at the lower edge for display. To provide an alternative method of supporting packaged food at a retail exhibition hall, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 13, one or more at one or more edges of the package to facilitate hanging onto a peg. Holes 212 may be provided. Products can be nested on the display peg with other similar products, thus reducing the total amount of space required for retail display.

  FIG. 19 shows a resealable packaged food comprising a curved rigid wall 110 that supports the package in an upright position and at least one food receiving area or compartment 145. Each compartment 145 is defined by a plurality of rigid walls 200, each wall 200 having a base on curved wall 110 and a flange 202 along its distal edge, to which lid 204 can be resealed. Seal with a good peel seal, snap fit, or other resealable configuration. In addition to being able to display the package vertically in an upright position on the curved wall 110, the package can also be displayed in a stable arrangement in which the lid 204 is placed on a horizontal shelf as a bottom wall. For this purpose, the lid can have a substantially flat major surface 206 that contacts the support shelf, or at least a substantially flat peripheral surface 208. The lid may have a flange 210 that extends toward the curved wall at an angle relative to its major surface 206, for example at an angle of about 90 °, to aid in the installation and sealing of the lid on the wall 200.

  Each compartment 145 is generally rectangular, and the illustrated wall 200 is vertical when the packaged food is upright as shown, and the horizontal top and bottom walls (not shown) are curved walls. 110 has a base and a flanged distal end that mates with the lid. Each of the wall flanges may be L-shaped with a first portion 216 extending outwardly at right angles to the wall main portion 214 and a small portion 218 returning toward the curved wall.

Method An example of a method for providing the product 100 described above is shown in FIG. Initially, in step 1710, a lightweight rigid wall is formed. Next, in step 1720, the food is placed on the rigid wall. Next, in step 1730, the first flexible film is placed over the food and rigid wall, and then in step 1740, the food is allowed to be a rigid wall so that the flexible film is in the shape of the food and rigid wall. Vacuum seal with flexible film. Then, in step 1750, the food package is bent backwards between the side edges when standing on the edge, so that its lower edge has a stabilization point 125 located in front or behind between the side edges. Then, shape the food package into a bow.

  In another embodiment, the light rigid wall is given an arcuate shape prior to placing food on the rigid wall 1720 and thus prior to vacuum sealing the flexible film to the rigid wall. The food can be placed on either the convex or concave surface of the rigid wall.

  In some embodiments, forming a lightweight rigid wall 1710 includes thermoforming, mechanically molding, injection molding, or blow molding the rigid rollstock material into a generally planar shape, after which the rigid wall and After the food is vacuum sealed with the flexible film, the rigid wall is given a curved shape.

  Step 1740 of vacuum sealing the food product seals the flexible film to the rigid wall along its two or more dimensions, then pulls a vacuum, and then provides a final seal between the flexible film and the mating wall. Do. In some embodiments, the flexible film may be a vacuum skin packaging (VSP) film.

  In some embodiments, as described above, the rigid wall can be bent or bowed early in the food package providing process 1700 to vacuum seal food 1740 between the rigid wall and the flexible film. Can use a sealing head that is curved in the same way as the rigid wall so that the rigid wall remains curved during sealing. In other embodiments, vacuum sealing the food product between the rigid wall and the flexible film 1740 includes temporarily straightening the food package to provide a vacuum seal. Upon completion of the vacuum seal 1740 of the food package, pressure or heat can be applied to the rigid wall to return the rigid wall to a curved shape, or the package depends on the characteristics of the rigid wall, such as elastic properties and / or shape memory properties. Can return to a curved shape.

  The method 1700 can further include placing a second flexible film on the opposite surface of the rigid wall. Step 1740 of vacuum sealing the food between the rigid wall and the flexible film partially seals the (first) flexible film to the second flexible film, and then surrounds the food. A vacuum can be applied to remove air, and then the sealing between the first flexible film and the second flexible film can be completed. The method 1700 can further include trimming the edges of the first and second flexible films to coincide with the periphery of the rigid wall after completion of sealing, the trimming step including straight-cut edges. And can include a step of temporarily straightening the packaged food product, and a curved cutting device can be used to eliminate the need to straighten the packaged food product.

  The method 1700 may further include providing means for facilitating initial opening and sealing of the package, such as a peelable seal, a sealable peelable seal, a zipper or other function.

  In some embodiments, at least one surface of the food packaged with a printed flexible film to facilitate the display of brand information, product information, attractive graphics, or other content. And a pressure sensitive label can be attached to at least one side of the packaged food.

  The method described above is preferably used for high-speed commercial packaging processes in food plants suitable for mass production of packaged foods in a frozen environment. As shown in FIG. 18, these packaged foods can be nested for transport to a shipping office or retail store (step 1830), where they are denested and on a horizontal surface without external support. Can stand upright at the curved edge of the non-planar lightweight rigid wall (step 1840).

Claims (29)

A lightweight and rigid first wall that can be stably supported by edges on a horizontal plane, with a pair of substantially vertical side edges at both ends, curved upper and lower edges extending therebetween A first wall having an edge;
A second wall having a peripheral portion engaging the first wall and at least one inner portion defining at least one food receiving area;
At least one quantity of food placed in the at least one food containing area;
An upright packaged food product comprising:
The packaged food product has a width determined by the distance between the pair of side edges and a height determined by the length of the side edges;
The packaged food product has complementary front and back surfaces configured to allow the product to be nested with other similar products, one concave and the other convex.
The packaged food is bowed to be curved between the side edges so that the lower edge is non-linear;
The lower edge has a stabilization point between the side edges, and (1) a depth determined by the distance between the first line connecting the end of the lower edge and (2) the stabilization point. Have
The packaged food further has a center of mass located between the first line and the stabilization point of the lower edge, so that the packaged food stands upright at the edge on a horizontal plane. A second line extending from the first line to the center of mass in a plane perpendicular to the first line forms an angle α with respect to the horizontal and in a plane perpendicular to the first line. third line extending to the center of mass from the stabilizer point at an angle β relative to the horizontal, each of the angles α and β is minor than 90 degrees,
The packaged food product is characterized in that the second wall is formed by covering a flexible film on the food product and the first wall . The packaged food according to claim 1, wherein the lower edge forms an arc, and the arc has a pair of tangents intersecting at an angle θ between 40 ° and 100 °. The package has a width of 10.16 cm-17.78 centimeters height, 1.524 cm to 5.842 cm depth and 15.24 cm to 30.48 cm, A packaged food product according to claim 2 characterized in that: 4. The packaged food product of claim 3, wherein the width is greater than the height and the packaged food product has a width to depth ratio of 2 : 1 to 20: 1.   The packaged food further includes the first wall and the second wall suitable for presentation to a consumer in a retail display setting so that the first wall can be displayed to the consumer. The packaged food product of claim 1, comprising graphics on one or both of the walls.   The packaged food further includes the first wall and the second wall suitable for presentation to a consumer in a retail display setting so that the second wall can be displayed to the consumer. The packaged food product of claim 1, comprising graphics on one or both of the walls. 5. A packaged food product according to claim 4, wherein the packaged food product has a height to depth ratio of 4 : 2.3 to 7 : 0.6. The packaged food product of claim 7, wherein the at least one inner portion comprises two separate interior regions. The first wall and the second wall allow the food product to be viewed substantially completely through them, the packaged food product comprising only two layers of packaging material, the second wall 9. The packaged food product of claim 8, wherein the has a thickness of 0.3048 millimeters or less and the first wall has a thickness of 1.016 millimeters or less. The food includes a single slice deli meat food, the flexible film conforms to the shape of the food, the food is vacuum sealed in the package, and the packaged food is 2.54 centimeters or less. 10. The packaged food product of claim 9, wherein the packaged food product has a thickness of. A lightweight and rigid wall that can be stably supported by edges on a horizontal plane, having a pair of side edges at both ends and an upper edge and a lower edge extending between them;
Food placed on and supported by the rigid wall;
A flexible film that is placed over the food product and the rigidity of the wall, the vacuum-sealed over the entirety of the food in cooperation with the wall of the rigid, forming a hermetic seal around the food product A flexible film,
An upright packaged food product comprising:
The packaged food product has a concave first surface and a convex second surface configured to allow the product to nest and stack with other similar products;
The packaged food is bowed to be curved between the side edges so that the lower edge is non-linear, the lower edge has a stabilization point between the side edges and (1) having a depth determined by the distance between the first line connecting the end of the lower edge and (2) the stabilization point;
The packaged food further has a center of mass located between the first line and the stabilization point, so that when the product stands at an edge on a horizontal plane, A second line extending from the first line to the center of mass in a vertical plane forms an angle α with respect to the horizontal, and the center of mass from the stabilization point in the plane perpendicular to the first line. The third line extending to the angle β with respect to the horizontal, each of the angles α and β being less than 90 degrees,
Packaged food characterized by that. 12. A packaged food product according to claim 11, wherein the arcuate comprises a series of relatively angled flat portions . The packaged food product is continuously curved, its lower edge is an arc, the arc intersects the tangent of the pair of opposite ends thereof at 4 0 ° to 100 ° of angle theta, the wall of the rigid The packaged food product of claim 11, wherein the packaged food product is formed as a portion of a cylinder and the flexible film is shaped to conform to the shape of the food product. 12. The packaged food product of claim 11, wherein the packaged food product has a maximum thickness of 2.54 centimeters or less. A lightweight first wall having a pair of generally vertical side edges at both ends and an upper edge and a lower edge between them;
A second wall that engages the first wall and defines at least one food receiving area between the first wall;
An upright packaged food comprising: at least one quantity of food placed in the at least one food containing area;
The packaged food product has a width determined by the distance between the pair of side edges and a height determined by the length of the side edges;
The packaged food is bowed to be curved between the side edges so that the lower edge is non-linear, the lower edge has a stabilization point between the side edges and (1) having a depth determined by the distance between the first line connecting the end of the lower edge and (2) the stabilization point;
The packaged food further has a center of mass located between the first line and the stabilization point of the lower edge, so that the packaged food is upright at the edge on a horizontal plane. A second line extending from the first line to the center of mass in a plane perpendicular to the first line forms an angle α with respect to the horizontal, and in a plane perpendicular to the first line. in the third line extending to the center of mass from the stabilizer point at an angle β relative to the horizontal, each of the angles α and β is minor than 90 degrees,
The first wall has a front surface and a back surface, one of which is substantially concave and the other is substantially convex.
The second wall is formed by covering a thin flexible material on the food and the first wall.
Packaged food characterized by that.   The packaged food further comprises a substantially horizontal top and bottom wall, wherein the packaged food has another similar packaged food and one packaged food bottom wall over another packaged food. 16. Packaged food product according to claim 15, characterized in that it can be stacked by placing it on a wall.   16. A packaged food product according to claim 15, wherein the width is greater than the height. 16. The packaged food product of claim 15, wherein the lower edge forms an arc, and the arc intersects a pair of tangents at both ends at an angle [theta] of 40 [ deg.] To 100 [deg.]. 16. The packaged food product of claim 15, wherein the arcuate comprises a series of relatively angled flat portions .   16. A packaged food product according to claim 15, wherein the first wall has a substantially concave front surface and a substantially convex back surface.   16. The packaged food product of claim 15, wherein the first wall has a generally convex front surface and a generally concave back surface. Said second wall is made of said thin flexible material, and substantially perpendicular from top to bottom, the first wall is made of rigid material, said first wall substantially perpendicular top and A lower portion and one or more cavities formed therebetween, the one or more cavities defining a food receiving area and also defining a surface capable of supporting the packaged food in an alternative posture. 16. Packaged food product according to claim 15, characterized in that   16. The packaged food product of claim 15, wherein the second wall and the first wall are joined together by hot melt or glue application.   16. The packaged food product of claim 15, wherein the food containing area between the first wall and the second wall is gas replaced.   16. The packaged food product of claim 15, wherein the at least one quantity of food product disposed within the at least one food storage area is food product vacuum packaged in a separate bag.   The packaged food product of claim 15, wherein the at least one food storage area comprises a plurality of product storage areas separable from each other. 27. Packaged food according to claim 26, wherein a hole is provided between the food containing areas.   16. The packaged food product of claim 15, further comprising a stamp message along one or more perimeters.   16. A packaged food product according to claim 15, further comprising means for facilitating suspension on a peg.

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