NL1007705C2 - Method for vacuum packing of food, particularly cut meat or cheese - Google Patents

Abstract

The food (9) is enclosed between two foil layers (7,8) which are sealed on at least two sides to each other in order to form a vacuum bag closed on at least three sides, leaving free at least one vacuum opening. The bag is then placed in a vacuuming device where it is vacuumed via the at least one opening. The vacuum bag is folded out of a foil sheet and at least the two sides connecting to the fold line are sealed, so that on the layer edge opposite to the fold line the at least one vacuum opening remains free. The or each foil sheet during or directly after packing of the food is cut free from a foil roll.

Description

Title: Improved method and device for vacuum packaging of food.

The invention relates to a method for vacuum packaging of foodstuffs, in particular sliced meat or cheese. Such a method is known from practice.

For vacuum packaging of foodstuffs, this known method uses preformed vacuum bags, into which pre-cut portions of meat or cheese are slid, after which the vacuum bags with the foodstuffs packed therein are placed in a vacuuming device for vacuuming and airtight closing of the insertion opening. , thereby enclosing the food under vacuum. This known method has the important drawback that the food items have to be slid into the bag, which is a time-consuming operation, in which the products to be packaged can moreover be influenced, in particular the mutual position thereof. For example, sliced slices of meat or cheese may slide and / or fold relative to each other, adversely affecting the pleasant appearance of the packaged products. Moreover, the vacuum bags to be used are relatively expensive, which increases the product price.

The invention contemplates a method as described in the preamble, wherein the above-mentioned drawbacks are avoided, while retaining the advantages thereof. To this end, a method according to the invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 1.

In a method according to the invention, a foil sheet is placed on or in a sealing device, after which the foodstuffs to be packaged are placed on the foil sheet. Film is then applied over the food, after which a sealing treatment is carried out such that the two layers of film are mutually connected on at least three sides of the food, in an airtight manner.

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This provides a foil bag in which the food items are packed unaffected, which foil bag has at least one vacuum opening. The foil bag thus filled can be placed in a vacuuming device, evacuated and closed, such that the food items are vacuum packed. Since the food items are placed on a first layer of foil and only then covered with a second layer of foil, the food items need not be slid into a foil bag, so that the configuration of the food items is not affected. In addition, the food can be placed directly on the foil from a processing device, for example a cutting machine, whereby intervention of human hands can be substantially avoided, which promotes hygiene. Moreover, the food items do not have to be placed on a carrier first, which lowers costs and moreover leads to less waste. The foil layers are preferably flat and therefore do not need to be pre-treated. Thus, with a method according to the present invention, food items 20 can be vacuum-packed in a fast and efficient, hygienic and economical manner, the food items having a pleasant appearance and keeping them in a packaged state.

In a first preferred embodiment, a method according to the invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 2.

By placing the foodstuffs on the top of a first foil sheet and draping a second foil sheet over it, a foil package can be obtained in a particularly simple manner from two sheets which are mutually separate from one another. It is particularly easy to prevent the appearance of the packaged products from being adversely affected. Moreover, no folding means or the like are required, so that a device to be used in this method can be of particularly simple construction.

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In further elaboration, a method according to the invention is further characterized by the measures according to claim 4.

By supplying the or each foil sheet from, for instance, a foil roll, and to release it during or after packaging the food products, at least during or after formation of the foil bag. cutting the roll, a method according to the present invention can be carried out in a particularly simple (semi) automatic manner. The or each foil sheet can be supplied continuously, so that it is prevented that, as is necessary in the known method, separate foil bags always have to be picked up and dispensed. This increases the efficiency and hygiene and thus the economic benefits even further.

The invention further relates to a device for vacuum packaging foodstuffs, as described in claim 6.

With a device according to the present invention a relatively large amount of foodstuffs can be packaged in vacuum bags in a particularly economical and hygienic manner, wherein the foodstuffs also have and retain a pleasant appearance in the packaged state.

In further elaboration, a device according to the invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 7.

With the aid of the first and second foil unwinding means, the foil sheets for forming the vacuum bag can automatically be placed under are placed above the foodstuffs to be packaged, which can be automatically formed by means of the sealing means and cutting means and are cut loose from the first and second foil web, respectively. With such a device it is therefore easy to obtain vacuum-packed foodstuffs with a pleasant appearance in a (semi) automatic manner.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a device according to the invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 10.

When the vacuum bag is cut off from the or each foil web, there is a risk that, as a result of the heat dispersed near the cutting means, the vacuum opening is somewhat or completely closed, such that it can no longer be used for vacuuming. In order to prevent this, according to the invention, means are provided behind the cutting means for moving the foil bags away, such that the vacuum opening is kept open. It is then preferred that the foil pockets are removed at a speed slightly higher than the feed speed in the direction of the cutting means, in other words that the foil pockets are pulled away slightly and if necessary pulled away during the cutting-off. This movement 20 ensures that the vacuum opening remains open.

The invention furthermore relates to a vacuum package according to claim 13.

Further elaborations of a method or device according to the invention are given in the subclaims.

To clarify the invention, a method and device will be described with reference to the drawing. Herein: fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a top view of the device according to fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of two sealing chisels with knives incorporated therein, shown schematically; Fig. 4 is a side view of a knife for use in a sealing chisel as shown in Fig. 3; 1007705 Fig. 5A a foil bag with an open vacuum opening; and Fig. 5B shows a vacuumed, closed package with foodstuffs; Fig. 6 is a side view of means for moving the foil bags away from the cutting means, in partial section; and Fig. 7 is a partial sectional front view of the means of Fig. 6.

In this description, corresponding parts 10 have corresponding reference numerals.

Fig. 1 schematically shows, in side view, a vacuum packaging device 1, comprising a sealing device 2 and a vacuum packing device (not shown). The vacuum packaging device 1 comprises a transport table 4, 15 first foil unwinding means 5 and second foil unwinding means 6, in which foil unwinding means each have a roll of foil 7, respectively. 8 is suspended. From the first foil unwinding means 5, a first foil web 7 extends over the table 4, on which food products 9 such as slices of meat products or cheese can be deposited in a manner to be described in more detail, from a cutting device 10.

The sealing device 2 comprises two pairs of 11 sealing rollers 12, between which the first foil web 7 and second foil web 8 are fed. A pair of 11 sealing rollers 12 is arranged on each longitudinal side 13 of the 25 film webs 7, 8, rotatable about a rotation axis 14 extending at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the table 4, with a first sealing roll 12A of each pair 11 under the first film web 7 and the sealing roller 12B co-operating therewith above the second, upper foil web 8. The sealing rollers 12 are rotatably drivable by means of drive means 15, and are provided along the circumference with a sealing profile 16 which extends a number of parallel, circumferentially extending shivering. During use, the sealing rollers 12A, B of each pair 11 are pressed against each other via the foil layers 7, 8, the sealing rollers 1007705 6 12 being heated by means of heating means 17, such that the foil layers 7,8 fuse slightly, at least at the level of cooperating grooves. As a result, gas-tight connecting grooves extending between the films 7, 8 extending in the longitudinal direction of the foil strips 7, 8 are obtained. As a result of the rotation of the sealing rollers 12, the foil layers 7, 8 and the foodstuffs 9 thereon or between them are driven past the sealing rollers 12, in the direction of further sealing and cutting means 18.

The sealing and cutting means 18 are schematically shown in fig. 3. These means 18 comprise two cutting bits 19A, 19B, which in side view have a substantially rectangular cross-section with relatively great height H and relatively small width B, the narrow 15 sides are slightly convex with a bending radius which substantially corresponds to half the height H. Each of the cutting bits 19 is attached to a rotary axis 20A, respectively extending through the center of said cross-section. 20B, which axes of rotation 20 extend parallel to the axis of rotation 14 of the pairs 11 of sealing rollers 12, while the sealing bits 19, viewed in the direction of the length of the axes of rotation 20, have a length at least corresponding to the width of the foil webs 7, 8. The rotary axes 20A, 20B have a vertical distance H, equal to the height H of the respective sealing bits 19. The lower sealing bit 19B is provided in each of the short sides longitudinally extending slot 21 in which an anvil called strip 22 is arranged, which serves as counter-cutting surface. On the rear side of the slot 21, seen in drive direction R, a sealing profile 23 is arranged on the short side of the sealing bit 19B, which sealing profile 23 consists of a series of grooves 24 extending parallel to the slot 22. The side lying in front of it in rotation the short side of the sealing chisel 19B is flat and smooth, for reasons to be mentioned further.

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A slot 25 extending over the length of the sealing chisel 19A is likewise arranged in the top sealing bit 19A, in which a knife 26 is placed, which protrudes slightly beyond the slot 5 with a cutting surface 27. In the part of the sealing chisel 19A, viewed in the direction of rotation RA, located behind the slot 25, a sealing profile 28 is again arranged, which again comprises a series of ridges 29 extending parallel to the slot 25. The sealing profile 28 can cooperate with the sealing profile 23, 10, whereby the grooves 24 and 29 can interlock. The part of the short side of the top sealing bit 19A lying in the rotational sense RA in front of the slot 25 has a smooth surface 30A, which always remains free from the opposite smooth surface 30B of the bottom sealing bit 19B.

During use, the foil layers 7, 8 are passed between the two sealing bits 19A, 19B, the sealing bits being rotated in the direction R resp. RA. When the sealing bits 19A, 19B are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the two foil layers 7, 8 are pressed together, the sealing bits 19A, 19B being heated in such a way with the aid of the heating means 17 that the two foil layers 7, 8 are sealed to each other, forming sealing grooves 42 perpendicular to the direction of movement P 25. Because the surfaces 30A, 30B of the sealing chisels 19A, 19B viewed in the rotational sense are made smooth and do not touch each other, the blades in front of the knife are prevented 27 and anvil 22 extending film layers 7, 8 are heated and pressed together to prevent them from being joined together. During the sealing of the foil layers 7, 8 with the aid of the sealing chisels 19A, 19B, the knife 27 is pressed against the anvil 22 by the two foil layers 7, 8, whereby a foil bag 31 is cut loose from the 35 foil strips 7, 8, while the longitudinal edge 41 of the 1007705 8 cut loose in the conveying direction P remains open to form a vacuum opening 35.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a knife 26, which clearly shows a specific shape of the cutting surface 27. The first side 32 of the cutting surface 27 which faces the sealing profile 28 during use has an inclined design, while the opposite second side 33 thereof extends approximately parallel to the side surfaces of the relevant sealing tool 19A. The knife 26 is further provided with a shoulder 34 which extends approximately at right angles to the second side 33 and during use is situated somewhat lower than the free longitudinal edges 34 of the slot 25. This prevents the film layers 7 from even more effectively. 8 come into contact with the surfaces 30A, 30B of the sealing chisels 15 19A, 19B, so that the vacuum opening 35 remains open.

By a suitable adjustment of the height H of sealing chisels 19, the rotation speed thereof and the throughput speed of the foil strips 7, 8 and the rotation speed of the sealing rollers 12, it is ensured that the sealing surfaces 23, 28 and the knife 26 and anvil 22 are pressed together to form and cut the foil bag 31.

After the foil bags 31 with the foodstuffs 9 enclosed therein are thus provided on three sides with a sealed seal 42, 40 (Fig. 5A), the foil bag 31 is brought to the vacuum packing device known per se, for instance by hand or semi-automatically. This vacuum packing device comprises a movable lid and a third sealing chisel. In addition, a vacuum line with pumping means connect to the lid. After a foil bag has been moved under the lid, the lid is moved downwards, so that an airtight seal is obtained, after which the foil bag is evacuated with the aid of the vacuum packing means. Subsequently, the sealing tool is pressed over the vacuum opening 35, whereby the 1007705 9 film layers 7, 8 are mutually sealed to form the sealing profile 41, such that an all-round vacuum package 31 with foodstuffs is obtained. This can then be disposed of.

From the cutting device 10, the food items 9 are deposited in a specific pattern on the first foil web 7, for example in a tile-like manner as shown in fig. 2. This configuration is retained because the foil layer 8 is applied loosely over it, thereby 10 shifts, deformations and the like of the foodstuffs are simply preventive. Naturally, all kinds of food items can be cut, for example, or packaged individually with a device 1 according to the present invention.

Fig. 5B shows a package manufactured with a device according to the present invention, wherein food items 9 are enclosed between two foil layers 7, 8 in a vacuum, sealing profiles 42, 40, 41 extending along the longitudinal edges of the package, such that 20 that a completely airtight seal has been obtained. The sealing profiles each comprise at least one and preferably a series of sealing grooves extending approximately parallel to the respective longitudinal edge, which form an effective barrier.

Naturally, in a device according to the present invention other means for influencing or determining the atmosphere in the package can also be used, for instance means in which an inert gas is introduced into the package instead of vacuuming it.

In an embodiment not shown, in a device according to the present invention, the food items 9 are placed on a foil web 7, after which a part of the foil web is folded over the food items before the then collapsed foil web 7 is passed between the sealing rolls and sealing chisels. In such an embodiment 1007705, therefore, one of the sides of the ultimately obtainable package is formed by a fold in the foil, while the other three sides are closed by the previously described sealing profiles 42, 5, 40, 41.

Figures 6 and 7 show in partial cross-sectional side view a device connecting to the sealing and cutting means 18. As described above, during the cutting of the foil layers 7, 8 using the sealing chisels 19A, 19B the series is cut off. sealing grooves 42 are formed on the foil bag 31 located on the supply side. There is a danger here that the vacuum opening 35 does not remain completely open as a result of some temperature increase of the cutting surface 27 of the knife 26. In order to prevent this, a device 50 is provided, by means of which the cut-off, at least cut-away foil bag 31 of the sealing and cutting means 18 can be withdrawn. The pull-out device 50 comprises two cams 51, mounted on a shaft 52 extending at right angles to the feed direction P20, which shaft 52 can be driven by means of a belt 53 through the shaft 20B of the bottom sealing knife 19B. In this case, a transmission ratio has been chosen such that with one revolution of the shaft 20B, the shaft 52 makes more than one revolution, for example two or more 25 revolutions. We will come back to this in more detail.

The pulling device 50 comprises an inclined surface 54 along which the foil bags 31 are guided. At least above each cam 51 an opening 55 is provided in the plane 54, through which an upper surface 56 of the cam 51 can extend.

Said top surface 56 is provided with a relatively non-slip coating and is curved with a radius approximately corresponding to the distance between the center of the shaft 52 and said top surface 56. Each cam 51, at least the top surface 56, encloses approximately a circle segment with an included angle of less than 360 °, for example about 30 °. This means that when the shaft 52 is rotated, the top surface 56 of the cams 51 extends through the openings 55 for only a limited time with each rotation. The top surface 56 then lies approximately flush with the top surface of the inclined plate 54 at the height of the longitudinal sealing edges 40 of the foil bag 31. Above the openings 55, a roller 57 is always arranged against which the top surface 56 of the respective cam 51 can roll, enclosing a sealed longitudinal edge 40 of the foil bag 31. In other words, when the top surface 56 of the cams 51 extends into the openings 55, the longitudinal edges 40 of the foil bags 31 located on the inclined surface 54 are clamped between said top surfaces 56 and the rollers 57. Since the cams 51 have a higher rotational speed than the sealing and cutting knives 18 and thus the foil bags 31 will give a higher throughput speed than the supply speed of the foil webs 7, 8 to the sealing and cutting means 18, the cams 51 exert an (additional) tensile force in the direction away from the sealing and cutting means 18, whereby the foil bag 31 is pulled away from the foil web 7, 8 . This ensures that the vacuum opening 35 remains open.

It will be clear that it is of course possible to design such a pulling device in a different manner, for instance by several pulling cams on the shaft, by a different position of the cams and / or rollers or by using for instance translating means which the vacuum bag 31 alternately engage and pull forward and release to obtain the aforementioned pulling motion. Such variations are believed to be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Many variations are possible within the scope of the invention.

For example, sealing chisels and sealing rollers can be used with other sealing profiles, for instance provided with intersecting sealing grooves, honeycomb-shaped profiles and the like, while in addition sealing chisels can be used, which move up and down instead of rotating. Of course, instead of foil webs, loose foil sheets can be used, while, moreover, other food items can be placed in other ways, optionally in compartments 5 in the packaging, whereby intermediate sealing profiles can be arranged between food items in the same packaging, to form compartments therein. Such intermediate sealing profiles can be applied, for example, after vacuuming. It is of course also possible to form the foil bags 10 on a known sealing device with an adapted sealing profile to be filled manually and then to place it in a vacuuming device, as long as the relevant adapted sealing profile is designed such that the foil bag to be obtained keeps at least one vacuuming opening 15 open. Other suitable vacuum packing devices can be used.

These and many comparable adjustments are immediately clear to the skilled person.

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Claims (13)

A method for vacuum packaging of foodstuffs, in particular sliced meat or cheese, in which: - a foil sheet is placed on or in a sealing device; - the food is placed on the foil; 5. a foil sheet is placed over the food, such that the food is enclosed between two foil layers; the foil layers are sealed on at least two sides of the foodstuffs to form a vacuum bag closed on at least three sides, leaving at least one vacuum opening; - after which the vacuum bag with the packaged foodstuffs is placed in a vacuuming device and evacuated via the at least one vacuuming opening; - after which the at least one vacuum opening is subsequently closed. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the foil bag is formed from two foil sheets which are placed loosely on top of each other, the foil sheets being sealed together on at least three sides of the foodstuffs, leaving the at least one vacuum opening on the fourth side. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum bag is folded from one foil sheet and wherein at least the two sides 25 adjoining the folding line obtained therewith are sealed so that the at least one vacuum opening remains free at the longitudinal edge opposite the folding line. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each foil sheet is cut loose from a foil roll during or immediately after packaging the foodstuffs. A method according to claim 4, wherein during the cutting of the or each foil sheet from the roll, at least one side of the or each foil sheet is pulled, such that it is pulled slightly away from the roll, at least pulled away from the cutting means used for cutting loose. 6. Device for vacuum packaging of foodstuffs, comprising: - a sealing device; and - a vacuum packing device, - the sealing device comprising means for forming an at least three-sided closed foil bag for the food to be packaged, leaving at least one vacuum opening; and - wherein the vacuuming device is arranged for vacuuming the foil bag through the vacuuming opening and closing the at least one vacuuming opening. Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sealing device comprises first and second foil unwinding means, transport means are provided for unwinding a first foil web 20 from a first foil unwinding means over a transport surface, wherein the second foil unwinding means are arranged for unwinding a second foil web placed on the first foil web, with sealing means and cutting means arranged behind the first and second foil unwinding means, viewed in the transporting direction of the transporting means. 8. Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sealing device comprises folding means for folding a second part of the film sheet, placed on a first part of a foil sheet, to form a closed fold, and sealing means for pasting at least two on the fold adjoining sides of the film layers sealing one another along the food, wherein cutting means are preferably provided for cutting a folded film sheet loose from a film web. 1 0 07 705 9. Device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the cutting means comprise a knife extending over the width of the foil strips, wherein a sealing tool is arranged near the knife, wherein means are provided for thermally separating the knife and the relevant sealing tool, all this in such a way that at least the side of the foil bag on the side of the knife remote from the sealing bit remains at least partly open, as a vacuum opening. 10. Device as claimed in any of the claims 7-9, wherein in the direction of supply behind the cutting means means are provided for moving the foil bags away from the cutting means, preferably at a speed slightly higher than the feed speed of the bags in the direction. of the cutting means. 11. Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for moving away the foil bags comprise pulling means which pull the foil bags away from the cutting means, in particular from the sealing means, such that it is ensured that the vacuum opening remains open at least in the vacuuming device. 12. Device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the means for moving away the foil bags comprise at least one friction surface and at least one roller co-acting therewith, movable, at least rotatable in a direction substantially parallel to the transport direction of the foil bags. 13. Vacuum packaging obtained with a method according to any one of claims 1-6 or with a device 30 according to any one of claims 7-12. 1007705