JPH0343370A - Single slice cheese packing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily unseal a food package by providing a soft packaging material having the dimension to provide a side part overhanging a surface opposite to an individual sliced food, and expanding and deforming the material on a terminal edge of an overlapped part or in the vicinity thereof across the terminal edge part to locate an unsealable edge part. CONSTITUTION: An individual sliced food is packaged with a soft packaging material, and packaged end parts are lapped on each other. The packaging material has the dimensions sufficient for providing an overhanged side part, and the sealing is made by applying the heat and/or pressure to the overhanged side part. Deformation capable of touching the arrangement of an unsealable edge part is preferably present on an overlapped edge part of the soft packaging material. This is formed on the surface of the packaging material by a mechanical, thermal or scientific means. The deformation pattern is added across at least a substantial part of a terminal edge of the width of the overlapped part of the soft packaging material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an easy-to-open package for the packaging of single-slice food products, and more particularly to a package for the packaging of single-slice foods that is easy to open. The present invention relates to a package in which deformation exists on the packaging material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Packaging for individually sliced food products has become commercially available in the last few years. For example, cheese is sold as individually wrapped slices, usually in larger sealed packages. A variety of flexible sheet materials, plastic films, coated foils, etc. have been used in packaging. These materials provide reasonable, inexpensive packaging that keeps perishable cheese fresh for a relatively long period of time. In addition, such packaging materials provide a highly attractive package, and the use of transparent films allows the consumer to see the product within the package.

Pre-sliced cheese is a popular item because it is easy to use in meal preparation, both at home and on a commercial basis, such as in restaurants. Thin slices of cheese unfortunately tend to dry out when exposed to the atmosphere. That is, once the package of cheese slices is opened, the quality of the cheese slices deteriorates unless the entire contents are used within a relatively short period of time. Therefore, packaging individual cheese slices and
It is desirable to prevent deterioration even when the main packaging is opened. Individual packaging also makes it easier to separate the cheese slices from each other and makes handling more hygienic.

Conventional individual packaging of sliced food products typically wraps the periphery of the sliced food product, leaving the zero overlap portions sealing the edges one inch close to each other without being sealed. It is desirable that the packaging provides a moisture barrier and is easily removable by the consumer. In conventional transparent plastic food packaging for sliced foods, the overlapping portions cannot be easily identified, making it difficult to open and peeling off the overlapping edges.

U.S. Patent No. 3,623,65 to illork
No. 3 (published November 30, 1971) teaches that the overlapping ends of the sliced food packaging material can be folded to provide a means for grasping the opening end of the packaging material.

Kraft U.S. Patent No. 3,851,06
No. 8 (published on November 26, 1974) teaches that when the overlapping part of a soft food package for sliced food is bent, it becomes a cuff, making it easier to grasp the overlap part. It has the disadvantage of requiring excessive packaging material and significantly increasing manufacturing costs.

No. 3,536,501 to Work, issued October 27, 1970, claims a food packaging material that includes two layers of heat laminated flexible packaging material. U.S. Patent No. 3.53
No. 6.501 also teaches that in some cases, the overlap can be folded to make it easier to grip the edges of the wrapper form.

Coffey U.S. Patent No. 3,623,8
No. 91 (published November 30, 1971) teaches the formation of a package for cheese slices that includes a piece of coated metal wrapping material. As previously discussed, the excess material required to manufacture the flap increases packaging costs.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Physical deformation near the overlapping edge of the package is such that: (1) the position of the unsealed edge that can be opened is visually discerned by the consumer, and (2) the packaging There is a need for packaging for sliced food products that does not use fold-over flaps or cuffs that is sufficient to facilitate opening of the food package without reducing protection or increasing material costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a palpable deformation (
The present invention relates to a package for packaging a single slice food product, in which a deformat 1 ons) is present on the packaging material to facilitate opening of the package by a consumer. The presence of this deformation facilitates lifting and peeling back of the overlap by the consumer.

The present invention comprises: (a) a flexible packaging material that wraps around and overlies an individual sliced food product to define overlapping and overlapping areas; (b) said flexible packaging material (c) said flexible packaging material traverses and overlaps at least a substantial portion of the terminal edges of said packaging material; A food package characterized in that it includes a deformation that extends on or near the terminal edge of the part.

In this application, "overlap"
g) means the outermost part of the packaging that is placed on or around the part of the packaging that is in direct contact with the sliced food product.

``Terminal edge o
f t,heovQrlappiB portions
) J is m 4% of the wrapper surrounding the sliced food item 0 overlap portion has only one terminal edge and three lateral overhanging edges.

As used herein, "a substantial portion of the terminal edge of the packaging material" means that portion of the packaging material width at least sufficient to facilitate placement and grasping of the overlapping terminal edge, thereby facilitating opening of the package. . That is, the deformation pattern can extend completely or to a significant extent across the width of the wrapper. A preferred minimum length of the deformation pattern along the terminating edge of the overlap is approximately the width of the consumer's thumb. .

Deformations on the overlap are a series of convex or concave points, lines, indentations,
A ridge, hole, ridge, etc. located at a location on or near the overlapping edge of the food packaging material. By seeing and feeling this deformation in the food packaging, the consumer can easily detect the openable edge of the food package.

In the present invention, individual sliced foods are wrapped in a soft packaging material, and the ends of the packaging material are overlapped. The wrapper has sufficient dimensions to provide an overhang, which can be fin-sealed by conventional methods of applying heat and/or pressure.

The food package of the present invention is particularly suitable for sliced cheese and sliced meat.

The packaging material may be any flexible material, but transparent plastic film materials are preferred; useful transparent plastic films include polyethylene, cast polypropylene, polyester, ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, borif-vinyl heptaide, and polyamide. , polyurethane rubber, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl chloride and copolymers thereof, extrudates or laminates. This flexible packaging material can be extruded, cast, coextruded or laminated by conventional methods, and may contain additives such as slip improvers.

Wrapping materials may be manufactured in a variety of thicknesses, but a total thickness of 13 to 51 microns (about 0.5 to about 2 mils) is preferred, with a more preferred range of about 25 to about 32 microns (1.0 mils). The thickness of this flexible packaging material, ranging from 1.25 mils to 1.25 mils, is selected to provide maximum economic benefit without sacrificing the utility of the packaging.The packaging is non-absorbent and moisture impermeable. The material is preferably .

The deformation can be formed on or near the overlapping edges of the flexible wrapper. However, it is preferred that the deformation be on the overlapping edges of the flexible wrapper, since the further the deformation is from the terminal edge, the more overlap is required. Large overlaps increase material costs. In addition, if the deformation is too far away from the terminal edge, it will not assist the consumer in locating and opening the unsealed portion of the baggage. It is preferably within about 12.7 m+n (0.5 inch) of the area.

Deformations can be created on the surface of the packaging material by mechanical, thermal or chemical means. Transform it! One method of forming the seal mechanically is to apply stress by passing the wrapping material between the teeth of two meshing gears.

When the polyethylene and polypropylene coextrusion wrapper is passed over or between gears, it forms an acceptable deformation pattern.To provide adequate deformation in the present invention, a diameter pitch in the range of 16 to 32 is required. Gears are particularly useful.

Diameter pitch is the ratio of the number of teeth on a gear/gear diameter.

In another embodiment, a flexible wrapping material is passed between a single gear tooth or sprocket and a flexible material surface, such as a rubberized roll, to apply sufficient stress to the material to cause it to deform, but not break. This single gear may or may not be heated.

Alternatively, the soft packaging material can be attached to a single gear tooth or sprocket.
) may be passed under tension on the film to ensure that the contact points with the gear teeth in the film are sufficiently stressed. The overlapping end edges of the food packaging material can be heated to apply thermal stress to the material to create the desired deformation. Heating can be by any conventional means including heated roller bars or grids or other contact means, hot air, electron beams, electromagnetic radiation, and the like. Chemically formed deformations can be distantly related to exposing the overlying edges to one or more chemicals that dissolve, etch, mark, or otherwise deform the polymeric material of the food packaging package. .

Preferably, the wrapping material is not elastic so that it completely springs back to its original shape before stress is applied, but rather maintains the desired deformation pattern. Therefore, it is desirable to use a packaging material with a high deformation/strain ratio.
rmation to 5train ratio.

) is the value obtained by dividing the difference between the dimension after stretching or applying stress to the film and the dimension before applying stress by the difference between the dimension after stretching or applying stress and the dimension before applying stress. means. For example (and not by way of limitation), unstressed dimension 2.54 C1 (1 inch) stretched dimension 5.0
8C11 (2 inches), left relaxed and 3.81CIl
The final size of the film is 1.5 inches.
The deformation/strain ratio is shown by the calculation below.

(3.81CIl after relaxation) (2.54CIl before stress application)
cm) (5.08 cm after stress application) - (2.54 cm before stress application) 2.54 The desirable deformation/strain ratio is a ratio greater than 0.5/1 and 0
．． Ratios greater than 8/1 are even more preferred. A ratio of less than about 0.5/1 leaves no observable deformation in the film, but is acceptable in some applications. It is also desirable that the elongation before break of the packaging material be sufficiently high to prevent rupture under the applied stress due to deformation. A preferred value for elongation before break is 200% or more. A more preferred elongation is 300%. Percent elongation is measured according to AST14D882.

Commercially available gears include, for example, 14.5° and 20.0°
It has a pressure angle of °. When two intermeshing gears with a pressure angle of 14.5 degrees are used in the present invention, the percent stretch or elongation of the polyethylene/cast polypropylene wrapper is approximately 300%. For a 20.0° gear, the percent elongation is approximately 192%.

In another embodiment of the invention, the width of the roller or mandrel passing through the overlapping end edge of the packaging material is wider than the width of the roller or mandrel used under the remainder of the packaging material to stress the packaging material. be. In this way, the terminal edge of the overlap is stretched over a wide roller or mandrel to an extent sufficient to form the desired deformation.

That is, one aspect of the present invention is a method for packaging food slices that provides individual packages of packaging material each containing a single slice, the method comprising: (a) permanently deforming the packaging material at the terminal edge of the flexible packaging material that becomes the overlapping portion; applying sufficient stress to cause the wrapping to extend across at least a substantial portion of the terminating edge of the wrapping, and wherein the wrapping is made of polyethylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, cast polyethylene, and coextruded polyethylenes. (b) the flexible packaging material of step (a) is selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a copolymer or a laminate; (c) sealing the overhanging sides of the wrapper, provided that the wrapper has sufficient dimensions to provide overhanging sides on opposite sides of the single slice food product; It also relates to a method for packaging sliced foods, which includes the steps of: not sealing the parts where they can be overlapped;

The step of the method of applying stress to the wrapper to create the desired deformation can be performed before, during, or after packaging the sliced food product.

The order of these steps is not critical, as long as the terminal edge of the wrapper is sufficiently deformed without adversely affecting the protective function the wrapper provides for the food product, and without adversely affecting the food product itself.

That is, the present invention provides, on or near the end of the overlap,
The deformation pattern is applied across at least a substantial portion of the terminal edge of the overlap width of the flexible packaging material. The food packaging package is thereby constructed for easy opening without the need for excess material in the form of fold-over flaps or cuffs. This deformation is sufficiently palpable and visually discernible.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments. It's just like that.

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. (a) a flexible packaging material that wraps around the individual sliced food and defines overlapping and overlapping parts; (c) a deformation extending across at least a substantial portion of the terminal edge of the wrapping and located on or near the terminal edge of the overlap; A food package comprising the aforementioned flexible packaging material. 2. The food package of claim 1 further comprising individually sliced food products. 3. 2. The food package of claim 1, including: (d) said flared sides of said flexible packaging material being sealed together. 4. 4. A food package according to claim 3, wherein the packaging material is exposed to heat and/or pressure and sealed. 5. The food package according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of the surface of the soft packaging material is palpable by hand. 6. The food package according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of the surface of the soft packaging material is visually discernible. 7. A food package according to claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging material is a heat sealable plastic. 8. The plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyfumide, polyvinyl fluoride, polyester, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane rubber, polypropylene, and copolymers, laminates, or coextrusions thereof. The food package according to claim 1. 9. The deformation is approximately 12 mm from the terminal edge of the overlapping segment.
Claim 1 located less than 7 mm (0.5 inch) apart
Food packaging as described. 10. The food package according to claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging material has an elongation at break of 200% or more. 11. Deformation/strain ratio of the packaging material (defined as the quotient of the difference between the relaxed dimension after the packaging material has been stretched and the dimension before stretching divided by the difference between the stretched dimension and the unstretched dimension) is about 0.
The food package according to claim 1, which has a ratio of 5/1 or more. 12. The food package according to claim 1, wherein the sliced food is cheese. 13. A method of packaging food slices providing individual packages of wrappers each containing a single slice, the method comprising: (a) applying sufficient stress to the terminal edges of the flexible wrapper in the overlap to create a permanent deformation of the wrapper; provided that said deformation extends across at least a substantial portion of the terminating edge of said wrapping material, and said wrapping material is made of polyethylene, polyurethane rubber, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyamide, polyfluorinated selected from the group consisting of vinyl, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, cast polypropylene, and copolymers, coextrusions and laminates thereof; (b) the packaging material overlaps itself to form an overlapping portion and an overlapping portion; wrapping the flexible packaging material of step (a) around the single slice food product, provided that the packaging material has sufficient dimensions to provide overhanging sides on opposite sides of the single slice food product; and (c) ) A method for packaging a sliced food product comprising the steps of: ) sealing the overhanging side of the packaging material, but not sealing the overlapped part; 14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the stress applied in step (a) is thermal stress. 15. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the stress applied in step (a) is a mechanical stress. 16. A packaged sliced food product produced by the method of claim 13.