NL2029168A

NL2029168A - Container for food products

Info

Publication number: NL2029168A
Application number: NL2029168A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Ravegnini Stefano; Saragoni Luca
Original assignee: Ipack S R L
Priority date: 2020-09-24
Filing date: 2021-09-10
Publication date: 2022-05-24
Also published as: FR3114301A3; PL72725Y1; SI26143A2; ES1261579U; CZ35708U1; AT17737U1; PT12012U; DK202100076U3; DE202021104741U1; CH717865A2; BE1028605A1; NL2029168B1; PL130281U1; PT12012Y; ES1261579Y; BE1028605B1; HU5481U; FR3114301B3

Abstract

A hermetically sealed container for food products is defined by a casing (1), formed by a material containing components chosen from the family of cellulose materials, and comprising a base or bottom (2); side and head walls (3) which, in mutual combination, surround a cavity for receiving the products; the side and head walls (3) have a top edge (4) running continuously along the con- tour of the casing (1); an annular reinforcing element (5), formed by a material containing components chosen from the family of cellulose materials, associated in overlapping and surface matching with the top edge (4) of the side and head walls (3); a film (6) adhered to and associated with the casing (1) to completely cover the inner surface of the bottom (2), the inner surfaces of the side and head walls (3) and the free surface of the annular reinforcing element (5) so as to create a layer or skin covering the container (100) to protect and seal the product receiv- ing cavity.

Description

CONTAINER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS.

DESCRIPTION The present model relates to a container for food products. In particular, the present model is directed to a container, display, hermetically sealed for perishable products, in particular for food products. Currently, the use of containers (also serving as real trays) for the display and sale of food products, such as meat, vegetables, fruit, etc., in shops and supermarkets or superstores is very widespread. In fact, these trays allow the definition of a package of a product enclosed in a protected environment (thanks to the use, in general, of a plastic covering film), possibly already weighed and provided with the sale price. The construction of such containers has, so far, followed two different philosophies: - the first of these consists in making the container in a single body and in plastic material through an injection process in moulds or thermoforming; - the second of these philosophies envisages making the container in paper material, preferably in cellulose, deriving it from sheets of card stock, paper or cardboard with different weights - thickness and in single or multiple layers as a function of the type of food to be contained and its "shelf-life". As a rule, the product contained in the container containment com- partment is protected by isolating the compartment from the external environment by means of an isolating barrier associated with the container and by creating a vacuum environment or a protective atmosphere inside the compartment. In essence, the gas barrier serves to keep the gas mixture intro- duced at the moment of packaging inside the container for as long as possible. As a function of the partial pressure of the gases in the container, we will have a gas leakage/entrance from the inside to the outside or vice versa. Typically, the barrier (preferably to gases and liquids) is obtained by applying a thin film of plastic material to the container, (preferably, but not limited to, multilayer plastic material of suitable thickness), which is spread over the con- tents of the container, stretched around to the edges of the same container and welded or glued continuously to the edges of the container itself.

In the case of containers with strictly flat and smooth edges (such as the aforementioned plastic containers obtained by thermoforming in a mould), the continuous welding of the film can be easily performed, so that the isolation of the inner compartment of the container is relatively easy to obtain and to main- tain durably over time.

In the case of the aforementioned containers obtained instead by drawing a flat sheet of cardboard, card stock, or other equivalent material (of par- ticular interest in this discussion), obtaining a welding of the barrier (a plastic film with a barrier to gases or liquids, or a rigid cover) which can ensure the hermetic seal of the container is instead much more difficult to obtain.

In fact, the forming process (for example by drawing) is responsible for the creation of characteristic surface crimps (or creases) of the material which are mainly concentrated around the concave spatial corners delimited between two contiguous side walls of the container and around the convex spatial corners delimited by the edge of the container and the side walls.

In fact, such crimps are due to local folds and overlaps to which the constituent material of the sheet is forced to conform in order to assume - starting from lying flat - a spatial configuration, having in particular a curved and/or folded side surface.

Since such crimps represent potential intercommunication channels (capillary) between the inner compartment of the container and the surrounding external environment, the creation of a localized hermetic seal at the same is highly problematic.

To this end, the Applicant has developed its own technology illus- trated in patent documents EP 1 365 964 and EP 1 792 844 in which a solution is provided - in addition to other problems deriving from the annular reinforcement of the container - also to the problem of how to obtain a better sealing of the containers suitable for the use of the same as sealed containers of fresh food and/or in any case highly perishable on contact with the ambient air.

Such a technology provides an improvement to the aforementioned problems by producing special reinforcing edges which have particular geometric shapes designed to overlap continuously and to wrap the top parts of the side walls of the container to try to improve the hermetic seal.

One such known solution has provided - in industrial practice - only partial satisfactory results for the current hermetic seal to gases which require a seal guarantee for times which such a solution fails to comply with.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for food products which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the object of the present model is to provide a food container capable of combining a high resistance of the cellulose container with a high sealing guarantee of the packaging gases and of the contained product.

A further object of the present model is to propose a container for food products of low cost, high ecological gradient and recyclability.

Said objects are fully achieved by a container for food products sub- ject-matter of the present model, which is characterized by what is contained in the claims stated below.

The main features of the model will be clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: - figure 1 shows a container for food products subject-matter of the present model, in a schematic top plan view; - figure 2 shows the container for food products of figure 1, in a schematic side view; - figure 3 shows a detail of the food container of the previous figures in a first embodiment solution and in a schematic exploded side view; - figure 4 shows a detail of the food container of figures 1 and 2 in a second embodiment and in a schematic exploded side view. With reference to the accompanying drawings, and with particular reference to figure 1, the container hermetically sealed to gases and liquids sub- ject-matter of the present model, indicated globally with 100, is used to house perishable food-type products.

As can also be seen in figures 2, 3 and 4, the container 100 is de- fined by a casing 1 formed by a material containing components chosen from the family of cellulose materials, and comprising a base or bottom 2. The casing also comprises side and head walls 3 which, in mutual combination, surround a cavity for receiving the products.

The side and head walls 3 have a top edge 4 running continuously along the contour of the casing 1 (such an edge 4 has a flat extension). The casing 1 also comprises an annular reinforcing element 5 (therefore also sealing) associated in overlapping and surface matching with the top edge 4 of the side and head walls 3. The annular element 5 is formed by a material containing compo- nents chosen from the family of cellulose materials.

As illustrated, the container 100 further comprises a film 6 adhered to and associated with the casing 1 to completely cover the inner surface of the bottom 2, the inner surfaces of the side and head walls 3 and the free surface of the annular reinforcing element 5 so as to create a layer or skin covering the container 100 to protect and seal the product receiving cavity.

In other words, the container 100 comprises a combination of com- ponents capable of maintaining and increasing the stiffness of the casing, by vir- tue of the annular element and a component with a barrier effect to gases and liquids which, also by virtue of the presence of the annular element, can be placed and permanently associated with all the surfaces of the casing to allow a perfect seal of the entire containment cavity of the container.

Preferably, the film 6 is formed by a plastic material chosen from the family of thermoplastic polymers (e.g., but not limited to, PE, PP, PET) having associations with other polymers and/or copolymers (e.g., but not limited to, PA or nylon, EVOH) to obtain a multilayer structure with a barrier effect to gases and liquids.

Preferably, the film can be made with polymers from fossil sources (not compostable or compostable) or from renewable sources (not compostable or compostable), monolayer or multilayer.

Preferably, the annular reinforcing element 5 comprises an intrados surface 7 folded on the edges of the inner surfaces of the side and head walls 3 and on which the covering film 6 is adhered (see figures 3 and 4).

The presence of the intrados surface allows a linear coverage of the inner edges of the walls 3 also covering the corner areas of the same walls 3, 5 where the characteristic surface crimps of the material are concentrated during the formation of the casing.

Therefore, by virtue of the intrados surface, a linear surface with a "soft" angle towards the remaining annular element 5 is obtained which can allow both a correct and safe adhesion of the film 6, with reduced risks of breakage of the film 6 during the surface adhesion thereof, and a high overall barrier effect of the casing 1.

In this light, the annular reinforcing element 5 also comprises an extrados surface 8 projecting externally from the top edge 4 of the container 100 and on which the covering film 6 is adhered (see figure 4).

The presence of the extrados surface 8 allows the film 6 to be ap- plied even beyond the overall dimensions of the edge 4 so as to also obtain, if required, on one or more of the outer curves of the surface, a "tab" 11 to facilitate the grip and therefore the opening of the tray once sealed.

Furthermore, with this configuration, i.e., with the presence of the tab 11 on the container 100, it is possible to use the container 100 also on differ- ent packaging lines.

In other words, with this technical solution it is possible to adapt, where necessary, the container 100 to the dimensions and radii of the sealing moulds used in the different packaging lines on the market.

It should be noted that the container 100 comprises, in use, a seal- ing barrier 9 of the container 100 arranged on the casing 1 and associated, at the top edge 4, with the covering film 6.

In this light, the barrier can comprise a film 9 of plastic material made adherent, i.e., associated, with the top edge 4 of the container 100.

Preferably, the plastic film 9 is heat-sealed on the top edge 4 so as to be associated with the film or skin 6 covering the casing 1.

Thanks to the presence of the covering film or skin 6 and the heat-

sealed film 9, the product inside the casing 1 is optimally protected to ensure the necessary duration of the product itself. Preferably, the bottom 2 of the casing 1 has at least one slit 10 open on the outside, (which may have different shapes, such as linear, continuous cur- vilinear or dashed) and closed, inside the cavity, by the covering film 6 adhered to the bottom 2. In this light, the bottom 2 of the casing 1 has a plurality of slits 10 open on the outside and closed, inside the cavity, by the covering film 6 adhered to the bottom 2.

The presence of these slits 10 allows to optimally and safely adhere the covering film 6 during the application step of the film itself through the use of an air-vacuum or vacuum system (preferably with the simultaneous aid of a con- trol and regulation of the temperature higher than the ambient temperature).

Preferably, the casing 1 is made of a sheet of material containing components chosen from the family of cellulose materials which can be the same as the material with which the annular element 5 is formed.

Other layers of material other than cellulose can be applied to this material to increase the physical features thereof. Preferably, the annular reinforcing element 5 is formed with a ma- terial containing components chosen from the family of cellulose materials.

The annular element 5 may be formed by a different material than the material with which the casing 1 is obtained.

Alternatively, the annular element 5 may be formed by a material analogous to the material with which the casing 1 is obtained. Also for the annular reinforcing element 5, one or more thermoplastic materials on one or both sur- faces of the annular reinforcing element 5 itself are applicable, in varying percent- ages, to the main cellulose component thereof to increase the physical features thereof.

The present model also provides a method for manufacturing a con- tainer for perishable food products comprising the following steps: - providing of a flat die formed by at least components chosen from the family of cellulose materials;

- providing an annular reinforcing element 5 formed by at least com- ponents chosen from the family of cellulose materials; - forming a casing 1, by drawing, starting from the die so as to define a base or bottom 2, of the side and head walls 3 which, in mutual combination, surround a cavity for receiving the products; the side and head walls 3 have a top edge 4 running continuously along the contour of the casing 1; - associating the annular reinforcing element 5 on the top edge 4 of the casing 1. Furthermore, before or after the formation of the casing 1, a step of making at least one slit 10 on the bottom 2 of the casing 1 is provided; and - an adhesion of a covering film 6 along the inner surfaces of the bottom 2, the side and head walls 3 and on the outer surface of the annular rein- forcing element 5. Preferably, the step of forming the at least one notch 10 on the bot- tom 2 comprises forming a plurality of notches 10 on the bottom 2 itself.

Furthermore, the step of making at least one slit 10 on the bottom 2 of the casing 1 is performed prior to the formation of the casing 1. The step of adhering the film 6 to the surfaces of the casing and the reinforcing element 5 is performed by using an air vacuum source (passing through the notches 10).

Claims

Conclusions

A hermetically sealed container for perishable food products defined by a housing (1) formed of a material containing components selected from the family of cellulosic materials and comprising: - a base or bottom (2), - side and top walls (3) which, in combination with each other, surround a cavity to receive the products; the side and top walls (3) having an upper rim (4) continuous along the periphery of the housing (1); - an annular reinforcing element (5) formed by a material containing components selected from the family of cellulosic materials, overlapping and surface-jointed to the upper edge (4) of the side and top walls (3 ), characterized in that it further comprises a film (6) adhered to and bonded to the housing (1) around the inner surface of the bottom (2), the inner surfaces of the side and top walls (3) and completely covering the free surface of the annular reinforcing element (5) to form a skin layer covering the receptacle (100) to protect and seal the product-receiving cavity.

The container according to claim 1, wherein the film (6) is formed by a plastic material selected from the family of thermoplastic polymers with compounds with other polymers and/or copolymers to provide a barrier effect to gases and create fluids.

The receptacle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the annular reinforcing element (5) comprises an inner vault surface (7) folded on the edges of the inner surfaces of the side and top walls (3) and to which the cover film (6 ) is attached.

The receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the annular reinforcing element (5) also comprises an outer dome surface (8) projecting outwardly from the top rim (4) of the receptacle (100) and to which the cover film (6) is adhered.

The receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising in use a barrier (9) hermetically sealed to gases and liquids of the receptacle (100), which is fitted to the housing (1) and is connected to the cover film (6) at the top edge (4).

The receptacle according to claim 5, wherein the barrier comprises a film (9) of plastic material which is made adhesive, i.e. bonded to the top rim (4) of the receptacle (100).

The receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom (2) of the housing (1) is provided with at least one slot (10) which is open on the outside and which is closed inside the cavity by the cover film (6) adhered to the bottom (2).

The receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the bottom (2) of the housing (1) is provided with a plurality of slots (10) which are open on the outside and which are inside in the cavity are closed by the cover film (6) adhered to the bottom (2).

The receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (1) is made of a sheet of material containing components selected from the family of cellulosic materials different from the material selected for the annular element (5).

The container according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein the annular reinforcing element (5) is made of a material containing components selected from the family of cellulosic materials similar to the type of material chosen for the housing (1).