RU2549099C1 - Package for marinating on demand - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging industry.

SUBSTANCE: package for marinating a food product comprises a lower film with the first and second compartments separated by a partition. The first compartment is designed for the placement of the food product and the second compartment - for the placement of a pouch for a food additive, containing at least one tearing seal that is able to be torn under pressure and which overlaps the partition. The upper film has edges hermetically connected along the perimeter to the lower film and at least a part of the partition of the lower film in the area overlapping the tearing seal for the separation of the first and second compartment. After tearing the tearing seal, the pouch and the first compartment form a channel for fluid movement, allowing the food additive to mix with the food product. The tearing seal has the lower burst pressure than the seal along the outer perimeter and the seal along the inner perimeter.

EFFECT: group of inventions provides the ability for the food product to marinate directly in the package, without exposing the product to the environment and preserving its eating qualities during storage.

23 cl, 18 dwg

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Softness is probably the most desirable property of meat for consumers from a number of its sensory characteristics. Therefore, the softness of meat is one of the most important economic indicators in livestock and meat industry. Accordingly, consumer acceptance of the quality of meat, such as beef, pork and poultry, largely depends on the softness of the meat after cooking. When meat is stiff and fibrous, the quality is recognized by the consumer as rather low. Designed for domestic consumption and sold in stores, meat usually refers to milder varieties. For example, achieving the desired degree of softness of beef, including increasing the fat content, may require intensive feeding. However, such costs can significantly increase the cost of meat. For this reason, serious efforts are being made to create ways to give a soft consistency to less soft meats.

Usually, food additives (such as, for example, marinades) can be used to improve the properties of meat, giving it an improved appearance and soft texture due to spices and flavors. For example, to add flavor and juiciness, flavoring agents are added to the meat prior to packaging. Other methods include keeping the meat in the marinade before packing it. In the case of adding flavorings or aging in the marinade, a softening agent is often not used, since the proteolytic enzyme contained in the softening agents is capable of over-softening the meat, which will make its texture unsatisfactory. Excessive softening is the result of prolonged contact of meat and softening agent due to the inability to regulate the duration of exposure at the marketing stage. In addition, even without taking into account the role of the proteolytic enzyme, the quality of the meat pre-marinated in the packaging is inevitably unstable, since flavoring agents usually affect the meat for too long.

Alternatively, restaurants or consumers may purchase meat packed in a vacuum bag, open the package and place it in another bag in which the marinade is added, or in a tray or container filled with marinade. When using a tray, container or a second package, the consumer removes the meat from the original packaging and inevitably exposes the meat to the external environment, which can lead to contamination during pickling. In addition, this method may include an undesirable step of cleaning the tray or container to avoid mutual contamination.

Summary of the invention

In some embodiments, the implementation of the present invention provides packaging for pickling a food product. In some embodiments, the package comprises a lower film having at least a first and a second compartment separated by a partition, wherein the first compartment is designed primarily to accommodate a food product, and the second compartment is designed primarily to accommodate a pouch. The package additionally contains a bag, mainly placed in the second compartment and designed to accommodate a food additive. The bag contains at least one bursting seal, capable of breaking under the action of a given pressure. The bursting seal at least covers the baffle. The package also contains an upper film, the edges of which are hermetically connected along the perimeter of the package with the lower film and at least part of the septum of the lower film in the area overlapping at least one bursting seal to separate the first and second compartments, as a result of which a hermetically sealed package is formed with a seal around the outside perimeter and a seal around the inside perimeter. In some embodiments, after breaking at least one bursting seal, the pouch and the first compartment form a fluid path that allows the food additive to mix with the food product. In some embodiments, the at least one burst seal has a lower burst pressure than the outer perimeter seal and the inner perimeter seal. In some embodiments, the food product can be pickled directly in the package.

In some embodiments, the implementation of the present invention provides a package containing a food product and a bag with a food additive containing at least one bursting seal that can burst under the action of a given pressure. In some embodiments, the package comprises a lower film having at least a first and a second compartment separated by a partition, wherein the first compartment is designed primarily to accommodate a food product, the second compartment is designed primarily to accommodate a pouch, and at least one burst seal is at least partially overlaps the partition. The package further comprises an upper film, the edges of which are hermetically connected along the perimeter of the package with the lower film and at least partially with the septum of the lower film in the region overlapping at least one tear seal to separate the first and second compartments, resulting in a hermetically sealed package with a seal around the outside perimeter and a seal around the inside perimeter. In some embodiments, after breaking at least one bursting seal, the pouch and the first compartment form a fluid path that allows the food additive to mix with the food product. In some embodiments, the at least one burst seal has a lower burst pressure than the outer perimeter seal and the inner perimeter seal. In some embodiments, the food product can be pickled directly in the package.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for controlling the amount of a food additive mixed with a food product. In particular, the method includes forming a load-bearing element of the package, which comprises a first compartment, designed primarily to accommodate the food product, and a second compartment, designed primarily to accommodate the bag, with the first and second compartments separated by a partition. The method further includes forming a pouch designed to accommodate the food additive and loading the food additive into the pouch. The method also includes sealing the food additive in the bag with at least one bursting seal capable of bursting and allowing the food additive to exit the bag. The method further includes loading the food product into the first compartment of the carrier element and loading the bag into the second compartment of the carrier element, wherein at least one burst seal at least partially covers the partition, and after the burst seal ruptures, the bag and the first compartment form a channel for fluid movement allowing the food supplement to mix with the food product. The method further includes sealing the carrier with the film around the perimeter of the package by sealing along the outer perimeter and at least partially with a baffle in the area overlapping at least one bursting seal using the seal on the inner perimeter to separate the first and second compartments, resulting whereby the first package is able to withstand a given pressure and prevent leakage of a food additive and a food product from it while mixing the food additive and food product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

On figa shows a perspective view of the packaging according to some variants of implementation of the present invention,

on figb shows a view in section along the lines 1b-1b in figa,

on figa shows a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the lower packaging film according to some variants of implementation of the present invention,

on figb shows a view in section along the lines 2b-2b in figa,

on figa shows a top view in plan of one of the embodiments of the bag that can be used in the present invention,

on figb shows a view in section along the lines 3b-3b in figa,

figure 4 shows a top view in plan of one of the embodiments of the upper film, which can be used in some embodiments of the present invention,

on figa shows a top view in plan of one of the embodiments of the packaging that can be used in the present invention,

on figb shows a partial sectional view of the packaging illustrated in figa,

on figv shows a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the folded bag, which can be used in some embodiments of the embodiments of the present invention,

on figg shows a top view in plan of one of the embodiments of the packaging that can be used in the present invention,

Fig. 5d shows a partial cross-sectional view of a package illustrated in 5g,

6a and 6b show plan top views of packages that can be used according to some embodiments of the present invention,

on figa shows a top view in section of a package that can be used in some embodiments of the embodiments of the present invention,

on figb shows a top view in plan of one of the embodiments of the bag, which can be used in some embodiments of the embodiments of the present invention,

on figv shows a top view in section of a package that can be used in some embodiments, variants of implementation of the present invention,

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a package that may be used in some embodiments of embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description

I. General considerations

1 a and 1 b illustrate one embodiment of a package 5 according to the present invention. In particular, the package 5 comprises a lower film 10, which has at least first and second compartments 15 and 20, separated by a partition 17. In the first compartment 15, mainly food product 25 can be placed, and in the second compartment 20, mainly a bag 30 can be placed. in particular, the bag 30 comprises first and second rupture seals 35, 36, and one or more additives 31 are placed therein. The upper film 40 is hermetically connected to the lower film 10 around the perimeter of the package by means of a seal 45 around the outer perimeter. In addition, as described in more detail below, the package 5 contains at least one seal 50 along the inner perimeter, which interacts with at least one of the bursting seals 35, 36 and serves to separate the first and second compartments 15, 20 until it becomes desirable mix additive 31 and food product 25.

During application under pressure applied to at least the second compartment 20 of the package 5, at least one of the bursting seals of the bag 30 may burst, and the additive 31 can be effectively distributed over the food product 25. As a result, in the present invention, adjustable applying the food additive to the food product inside the package 5, while before mixing the first and second compartments 15, 20 remain separated. After sufficient mixing time has elapsed, the pickled food product can be removed from package 5 and heated and / or heat treated in an oven or microwave.

Although the packaging of the invention has been described using food as an example, it is understood that the invention is not limited to this use and may have a variety of uses, including but not limited to medicine.

II. Definitions

Although it is intended that the following terms be understood by those skilled in the art, the following are definitions that facilitate understanding of the present invention.

Unless otherwise indicated, all technical and scientific terms used have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described in the invention may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, representative methods, devices, and materials are described below.

In accordance with accepted patent practice, the indefinite and definite articles used in the description as well as in the claims mean “one or more”. So, for example, when “packaging” is referred to (for example, “packaging for pickling”), a plurality of such packages are meant, and so on.

Unless otherwise indicated, it is understood that the term "about" is used in all cases to all numbers used in the description and claims to indicate amounts of components, reaction conditions, and the like. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical parameters given in the description and claims are approximate values, which may vary depending on the desired properties sought in the present invention.

In some embodiments, the term “about”, as applied to any value or quantity representing mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, percentage, and the like, may mean ± 20% deviation, in some embodiments ± 10%, in some embodiments, ± 5%, in some embodiments, ± 1%, in some embodiments, ± 0.5% and in some embodiments, ± 0.1% of the indicated amount, since such deviations permissible in the described packaging and methods.

As used, the term “protective layer” means an outer film layer and / or an inner film layer, provided that the film layer is used to protect against abrasion, punctures and other potential causes of the integrity of the package, as well as potential reasons for the deterioration of the appearance of the package. The protective layers may contain any polymer, provided that it helps to maintain integrity and / or appearance. In some embodiments, the implementation of the protective layer may contain polymers with a module of at least 10 ⁷ Pascals at room temperature. In some embodiments, the implementation of the protective layer may include, without limitation, a polyamide and / or a copolymer of ethylene and propylene; in some embodiments, nylon 6, nylon 6/6 and / or amorphous nylon.

The terms “barrier” and “barrier layer” as applied to films and / or layers can be used to denote the ability of a film or layer to serve as a barrier to one or more gases. As known to those skilled in the art of packaging, oxygen-impermeable (i.e., gaseous O ₂ ) barrier layers include, for example, a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol (polymerized ethylene vinyl alcohol), polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyalkylene carbonate, polyamide, polyethylene naphthalate, polyester, polyacrylonitrile and the like. In some embodiments, the implementation of the barrier layer may contain a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride and / or polyamide.

The term “comprising” as used is synonymous with the term “including” and has an open, non-limiting meaning.

As used herein, the term “easily openable sealant” refers to any polymer or mixture of polymers that comprises at least a large portion of a film layer containing an easily openable sealant. In some embodiments, the easy-to-open seal has a lower adhesion strength (in accordance with ASTM F88-05) than the adhesion strength of a conventional seal described in the invention. In some embodiments, a typical adhesion strength may be from about 1 pound / inch to 20 pounds / inch; in some embodiments, from about 1 psi to 10 psi; and in some embodiments, from about 1 psi to 3 psi. However, an easy-to-open seal can have any adhesion strength, provided that it exceeds the tensile strength of the film near the seal area (i.e., the film is torn before the seal is torn). Examples of easy-to-open sealants that can be used according to the present invention include (without limitation): (1) DuPont APPEEL ™ resins; (2) polyethylene, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) and / or EVA copolymers mixed with polypropylene or another incompatible resin; (3) a polyolefin mixed with polybutylene-1; (4) a polyolefin mixed with polypropylene or another incompatible resin; (5) Versify ™ 5050 or Sealution ™; (6) SPS-70 or SPS-33C-3; (7) Surlyn® or a mixture of Surlyn® with an incompatible resin such as polypropylene or polybutylene. Applicable easy-to-open seals for use in embodiments of the present invention are described in patents / publications of US Pat.

As used herein, the term “film” may have a generic meaning and include a plastic fabric, whether it is a film or a sheet.

As used herein, the term “food supplement” refers to any liquid or solid substance that becomes or in relation to which it can reasonably be assumed that it directly or indirectly becomes one of the components of any food product or otherwise affects its characteristics. In some embodiments, the nutritional supplement may be, for example, a substance having a different taste and / or aroma, such as a salt, or any other substance that enhances or changes the taste or aroma. Examples of nutritional supplements include, but are not limited to, marinades and proteolytic enzymes. In addition, food additives can be considered components that are not additives in themselves, such as vitamins, minerals, coloring additives, herbal supplements (e.g. Echinacea or St. John's wort), antimicrobials, preservatives, etc.

Used the term "food product" refers to any nutrient that is eaten or otherwise ingested to support life, provide energy, promote growth and / or the like. For example, in some embodiments, food products may include, but are not limited to, meat, vegetables, fruits, starches, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the food products may be individual food components or mixtures thereof.

The term "heat seal" as used refers to any tight connection of a first region of a film surface to a second region of a film surface, which is formed by heating these regions at least to their respective seal initiation temperatures. Heat seal is the process of joining two or more thermoplastic films or sheets by heating the contacting areas to the temperature at which fusion takes place, usually by pressure. In some embodiments, the heat seal may include heat bonding, heat seal welding, pulse welding, dielectric welding and / or ultrasonic welding. Heating can be carried out by any one or several of a variety of means, such as (without limitation) a heated strip, a high-resistance wire, hot air, infrared radiation, ultrasound, etc.

The term "hermetically sealed" as used refers to a package that is predominantly hermetically sealed to prevent, for example, the release or ingress of air and / or liquid in standard use.

Used the terms "layering", "layered material" and "multilayer film" may refer to the process and the resulting product made by joining with each other two or more layers of film and / or other materials. Layering can be accomplished by bonding film layers with adhesives, bonding using heat and pressure, coating distribution and / or coating by extrusion. In some embodiments, the term “laminate” as used may include co-extruded multilayer films containing one or more bonding layers.

Used the term "layer" refers to the thickness of the material, which is formed on any surface as a whole parallel to the surface and one side of which is facing the surface and the other side is opposite to the surface.

As used herein, “marinade” refers to a food substance that is capable of imparting one or more flavors and / or textures to a food product. In some embodiments, the marinade may contain acidic ingredients, such as vinegar, lemon juice, and / or wine. In some embodiments, the marinade may contain salted ingredients such as soy sauce, brine, or other prepared sauces. In some embodiments, the implementation of the marinade may contain oils, herbs and spices to give additional flavor to the food product. In some embodiments, the marinade may contain one or more proteolytic enzymes to impart flavor and / or softness to the food product.

Used the term "meat" means both cooked and not cooked meat and includes, without limitation, beef, poultry, such as poultry (including chicken, duck, goose, turkey, etc.), buffalo meat, camel, crustaceans (including mollusk, scallop, mussels, oysters, lobster, crayfish, crab, shrimp, etc.), dogs, fish (including salmon, trout, eel, cod, herring, flounder, hake , halibut, turbot, burbot, squid, tuna, sardine, swordfish, sea dog, shark, etc.), game (including deer, cannon, antilo s, etc.), game birds (such as pigeons, quails, doves, etc.), goats, hares, horses, kangaroos, lamb, marine mammals (including whales, etc.), amphibians (including frogs, etc.), monkeys, pigs, rabbits, reptiles (including turtles, snakes, alligator, etc.) and / or sheep.

The term "medical device" and the like. refers to any product that is used in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, for example, with medical intervention. Such products may include (without limitation) needles, syringes, suture material, wound dressings such as bandages, general wound dressings, non-stick dressings, burn dressings, surgical instruments such as scalpels, gloves, sheets and other disposable products , solutions, ointments, antibiotics, antiviral agents, blood components such as plasma, drugs, biological agents, intravenous solutions, physiological solutions, surgical prostheses, surgical suture material, stents, catheters, vascular transplants, artificial organs, cannulas, wound care products, dialysis shunts, tubes for draining wounds, mesh implants, intraocular devices, heart valves, biological grafts, tape seals and dressings, caps, shoe covers, sterilization wraps, etc.

The term "packaging" as used refers to the packaging materials into which the product is packaged, and may include (without limitation) bags, pouches, trays, and the like.

The term "partition" as used refers to a structure that divides the entire space into compartments or parts. For example, in some embodiments, the partition may divide the carrier into two compartments.

Used the term "polymer" means the product of the polymerization reaction and may include homopolymers, copolymers, ternary copolymers, etc. In some embodiments, the film layers may consist predominantly of one polymer or may contain additional polymers along with it, i.e. mixed with him.

The term "pouch" as used refers to a hollow container having a specific volume. In some embodiments, the pouch may be considered “closed” in the sense that its contents are predominantly held within the pouch and the pouch volume is preferably sealed around the perimeter. The term pouch as used also includes packets, sachets, and the like.

As used herein, the term “proteolytic enzyme” refers to an enzyme that can be added to a flowing marinade to break peptide bonds in proteins and thereby give a soft consistency to meat. The proteolytic enzymes useful in the present invention may include, without limitation, bromelain from pineapple and papain from papaya, achromopeptidase, aminopeptidase, ancrod, angiotensin converting enzyme, bromelain, calpain, calpain I, calpain II, carboxypeptidase A, carboxypeptide peptide B, carboxypeptide peptide B P, carboxypeptidase W, carboxypeptidase Y, caspase, caspase 1, caspase 2, caspase 3, caspase 4, caspase 5, caspase 6, caspase 7, caspase 8, caspase 9, caspase 10, caspase 11, caspase 12, caspase 12, caspase 12 B, cathepsin C, ka tepsin D, cathepsin G, cathepsin H, cathepsin L, chymopapain, chymase, chymotrypsin a-, clostripain, collagenase, complement Clr, complement Cls, complement factor D, complement factor I, cumumisin, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, elastase (elastase) pancreatic), Arg-C endoproteinase, Asp-N endoproteinase, Glu-C endoproteinase, Lys-C endoproteinase, enterokinase, factor Xa, ficin, furin, granzyme A, granzyme B, HIV protease, IGase, tissue kallikrein, leucine amine total), leucine aminopeptidase (cytosolic), leucine aminopeptidase (microsomal), matrix metalloprotease, methionine aminopeptidase, neutrazole, papain, pepsin, plasmin, prolidase, pronase E, specific antigen of the prostate gland, protease (alkalophilic form), Streptomyces griseus, protease from Aspergillus, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi, protease from Aspergillus saitoi AT. licheniformis) (alkaline), protease (B. licheniformis) (alkalase), protease from Bacillus polymyxa, protease from Bacillus sp, protease from Bacillus sp (Esperase), protease from Rhizopus sp., protease S, proteasome, protease from Aspergillus oryza proteinase 3, proteinase A, proteinase K, C-reactive protein, pyroglutamate aminopeptidase, renin, chymosin, streptokinase, subtilisin, thermolysin, thrombin, tissue plasminogen activator, trypsin, tryptase, urokinase, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “conventional sealant” refers to any applicable polymer or polymer blend constituting at least a large part of the film layer in which the conventional sealant is contained. A conventional sealant has greater adhesive strength (measured according to ASTM F 904-98) than the adhesive strength of an easily opened sealant of the same film. In some embodiments, the outer film layer in which the conventional seal is located has an adhesion strength of at least 3.5 psi, such as at least 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, and at least 6 pounds / inch or 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 or 6 psi. In another embodiment, the film layer in which the conventional seal is located has an adhesion strength of from 3.0 to 6.0 pounds / inch, such as from 3.5 to 5.5 and from 4.0 to 5.0 pounds / inch . In some embodiments, the grip strength of a conventional seal may exceed the grip strength of an easily opened seal by at least about 75 psi, for example at least about 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5, 10 , 15, 20 or 25 psi, for example 0.5 to 20 psi, in particular 1-15, or 5-10 psi. Examples of conventional sealants include, but are not limited to: (1) Ziegler-Natta-catalyzed linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) such as DOWLEX ™ 2045.03, DOWLEX ™ 2045.04 and DOWLEX ™ 2247G; (2) metallocene-catalyzed LLDPE (m-LLDPE) such as Exxon EXCEED ™ 4518PA and Exxon EXCEED ™ 3518CB; (3) "plastomer" type polyolefin polyethylene (VLDPE) with a high content of introduced comonomers selected from octene or hexene and / or butene, such as Dow AFFINITY ™ PL 1888G, Dow AFFINITY ™ PL 1850G, Dow AFFINITY ™ PL 1850, ExxonMobil EXACT ™ 4151 and ExxonMobil EXACT ™ 3024; (4) "elastomeric" type polyolefin polyethylene such as Dow AFFINITY ™ EG 8100 and DuPont-Dow ENGAGE ™ resins; (5) a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, including “plastomers”; (6) "reinforced" copolymers of other types, such as Dow ELITE ™ 5400G; (7) LDPE, such as Huntsman PE 1042cs15 ™ and ExxonMobil ESCORENE ™ LD-200.48 0.915 / 7.5; (8) an ion-containing resin such as DuPont's SURLYN ™ 1650; (9) copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA); (10) copolymers of ethylene and methyl (meth) acrylate (EMA); and (11) ethylene butyl acrylate (EVA) copolymers.

The term “bursting” as applied to a seal may indicate susceptibility to bursting, but does not imply fragility. So, in relation to the rupture seal between the packaging films, this may mean that the films sealed in this way are connected to each other impervious to fluids, and when the seal ruptures by peeling the films from each other in the seal area, the films are separated from each other, breaking the seal, but preserving the integrity of the films themselves. Thus, a discontinuous seal in an undisturbed state ensures the integrity of the container for fluid, viscous and / or solid products, and in a torn state allows these products to pass between the films in the region through the region of the peeled seal.

The term "seal" as used refers to any hermetic connection of the first region of the outer surface of the film with the second region of the outer surface of the film using heat or adhesive of any type, thermal or otherwise. In some embodiments, a seal may be formed by heating these areas at least to their respective seal initiation temperatures. Sealing can be carried out by any one or several of a variety of methods, including without limitation the method of heat sealing (for example, hot-melt welding, heat sealing, pulse welding, dielectric welding, high frequency welding, ultrasonic welding, hot air welding, high-resistance wire welding, welding infrared radiation, etc.).

The terms “sealing layer”, “sealing layer”, “heat sealing layer” and “sealing layer” as used refer to the outer layer or layers of a film used to seal the film itself, another layer of the same or different film and / or other product, not being a film. It should also be noted that to seal the film itself or another layer, an outer film layer of up to 3 mil thick can usually be used. In the case of packages having only seals of the type connecting the edges of the weld, in contrast to seals of the lap type, the term “sealant layer” usually refers to the inner layer of the film, as well as to the carrier layers near this sealant layer, which are often tightly connected to each other and are in contact with the product layer when packaging food products. Typically, a sealant layer sealed with a heat sealable layer contains any thermoplastic polymer. In some embodiments, the heat sealable layer may comprise, for example, a thermoplastic polyolefin, thermoplastic polyamide, thermoplastic polyester and thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride. In some embodiments, the heat sealable layer may comprise a thermoplastic polyolefin.

The term "predominantly" as used means to a large extent (but not necessarily entirely) what it refers to. For example, in some embodiments, the term “predominantly” may mean a tolerance of +/- ten percent.

The term "thermoset forming" as used refers to a film layer that can be heated and stretched in the shape of a cavity while maintaining uniform thinning, in contrast to films or film layers that lose their integrity during high-temperature shaping (for example, polyethylene homopolymers do not lend themselves to high-temperature shaping with uniform thinning). In some embodiments, the forming thermolayers may include, without limitation, a polyamide, a copolymer of ethylene and propylene and / or a propylene homopolymer; in some embodiments, nylon 6, nylon 6/6, amorphous nylon, a copolymer of ethylene and propylene and / or a propylene homopolymer.

The term "thermoplastic" as used refers to non-crosslinked polymers of a thermosensitive material that flow under the influence of heat or pressure.

Used the term "tie layer" refers to any inner layer, the main purpose of which is the connection of two layers with each other. In some embodiments, the binder layers may comprise any non-polar polymer grafted with a polar group, whereby the polymer is capable of forming covalent bonds with polar polymers such as polyamide and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol. In some embodiments, the implementation of the binder layers may contain at least one element selected from the group including, without limitation, a modified polyolefin, a modified copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate and / or a homogeneous copolymer of ethylene and alpha-olefin. In some embodiments, the binder layers may comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of linear anhydride grafted modified low density polyethylene, low density grafted anhydride polyethylene, a homogeneous ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer and / or a grafted ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer anhydride.

The symbol “/” when indicating the chemical name of the copolymer (for example, “ethylene / alpha-olefin copolymer”) is used to denote co-polymerized comonomers to produce a copolymer. Accordingly, the term "ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer" is equivalent to the term "ethylene / alpha-olefin copolymer".

III. Pack 5

III.A. Packaging in general

As described above with reference to figa and 1b, the package 5 contains a lower film 10, which has a first and second compartment 15 and 20. In the first compartment 15 can be placed food product 25, and in the second compartment 20 can be placed a bag 30. Bag 30, in particular, contains first and second rupture seals 35, 36 and one or more additives 31 are placed therein. The upper film 40 is hermetically connected to the lower film 10 around the perimeter of the package by means of a seal 45 around the outer perimeter. In addition, the package 5 contains at least one seal 50 along the inner perimeter, which interacts with the bursting seals 35, 36 of the bag 30 and serves to separate the first and second compartments 15, 20 until it becomes desirable to mix the additive 31 and the food product 25.

III.V. Bottom film 10

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate views of a lower packaging film 10 according to some embodiments. In particular, in the lower film 10, the first and second compartments 15 and 20 can be formed by extrusion and high-temperature forming, separated by a partition 17. Although two compartments are illustrated, those skilled in the art will recognize that configurations may be provided in the present invention in which the bottom film 10 has more than two compartments.

Extrusion is a well-known plastic deformation shaping process in which thermoplastic materials are loaded from a hopper or other device into an extruder configured to heat the thermoplastic material and press it through a die to give a specific profile, such as a film or plastic sheet. High-temperature shaping is also well known in the field of packaging and is a process whereby a thermoplastic web is softened by the action of heat and given a new shape in accordance with the shape of the forming cavity. Applicable high temperature shaping methods include, for example, vacuum molding or punch vacuum molding. In the case of vacuum molding, the first web is heated, for example, by contact heating, and a vacuum is created under the web to press the web into the preformed matrix under atmospheric pressure. In the case of vacuum molding with a punch after heating the first or forming fabric and sealing it along the edges of the forming cavity, the forming fabric hits the punch, the shape of which is similar to the shape of the forming cavity, and after creating a vacuum, the forming cavity is given the shape of the forming cavity.

Films for forming the lower film 10 may be used in the form of a sheet or film and may be any of the films commonly used in packaging of the type described. To this end, in some embodiments, the bottom film 10 may be a single layer or multilayer structure formed by any suitable method, including coextrusion, layering, extrusion coating, and combinations thereof. Commonly used films have two or more layers, providing a combination of various properties, such as sealing, gas impermeability and rigidity in a single film. For example, the lower film 10 may have one or more barrier layers, protective layers, tie layers, sealing layers and / or bulk layers known to those skilled in the art. The polymer components used to make the lower film 10 may also contain appropriate amounts of other additives typically included in such compositions. For example, slip protection agents (such as talc), oxidation inhibitors, fillers, dyes, pigments, radiation stabilizers, antistatic agents, elastomers and the like can be added.

Thus, when forming the lower film 10 according to the present invention, various combinations of layers can be used. The following are some non-limiting examples of combinations with the lettering of the film layers: A / B, A / B / A, A / B / C, A / B / D, A / B / E, A / B / C / D, A / B / C / E, A / B / E / E, A / B / D / E, A / B / D / C, A / B / C / B / A, A / B / C / D / A, A / B / E / B / A, A / B / C / D / E, A / B / C / E / D, A / B / D / C / D, A / B / D / C / E, A / B / D / E / C, A / B / D / E / E ′, A / B / E / C / E, A / B / E / C / D, A / B / E / D / D ′, A / B / E / D / E, in which A means a layer of a sealant; B means a bulk layer or a layer of a sealant (depending on whether it is an inner or outer layer of a film); C means a barrier layer; D and D ′ mean bulk and / or protective layers (depending on whether they are the inner or outer layer of the film); and E and E ′ are protective layers. Of course, between one or more layers of said multilayer structures, one or bonding layers (“T”) can be used.

In some embodiments, the bottom film 10 has a total of about 4 to about 20 layers; in some embodiments, from about 4 to about 12 layers; and in some embodiments, from about 5 to about 9 layers. Thus, in some embodiments, the film may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 layers. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that a film may contain more than 20 layers, as in embodiments in which microlayer technology is used in the film components.

The bottom film 10 may have any desired overall thickness, provided that it provides the desired properties for the particular packaging operation in which the film is applied. Final web thickness may vary depending on technology, end use, etc. Typical thicknesses may be from about 0.1 to 20 mils; in some embodiments, from about 0.3 to 15 mil; in some embodiments, from about 0.5 to 10 mils; in some embodiments, from about 1 to 8 mil; in some embodiments, from about 3 to 6 mil; and in some embodiments, from about 4 to 5 mil.

It should be noted that the lower film 10 can be considered the "lower" fabric, for example, in normal use, the package 5 can rest on the lower film. Similarly, in some embodiments, the top film 40 may be considered the “top” web, for example, in normal use, the package 5 is positioned such that the top film web is the top of the package. However, those skilled in the art who are familiar with the present invention will understand that any applicable orientation may be used in the manufacture, storage, transportation, and / or demonstration of package 5. For example, the package 5 can be placed on the bearing surface so that the lower film 10 serves as the top of the package, and the upper film 40 serves as the bottom of the package.

In some embodiments, the bottom film 10 may be translucent (at least in areas without printed elements), which allows you to see the contents of the package through the film. Used the term "translucent" means that the material transmits light with negligible scattering and negligible absorption, which allows you to clearly see the contents (for example, a packaged food product or print) through the packaging material under standard viewing conditions with the naked eye (i.e. under the expected conditions application of the material). The degree of permeability (i.e. transparency) of the film can be at least about any of the following values: 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85% and 95%, measured according to ASTM D1746.

III.S. Sack 30

FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate one embodiment of a pouch 30 that can be used according to the present invention. In particular, the pouch 30 has first and second walls 55, 60, each of which has an inner surface and an outer surface. The pouch 30 also has first and second side edges 65, 66, and upper and lower edges 70, 71. In addition, the pouch includes first and second rupture seals 35, 36 and lap seal 37.

As those skilled in the art will understand, pouch 30 may be constructed from a variety of polymeric materials. To this end, in some embodiments, the pouch 30 is constructed of a polymer film comprising an inner (outermost) layer of an easily openable seal and an outer (outermost) layer of a conventional seal. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the layer adjacent to the inner layer may comprise an easy-to-open sealant, as in embodiments that employ an easily-open burst. This applies when the easy-open sealant layer is near a relatively thin inner or outer layer. When a sealed seal breaks, it breaks through an adjacent thin layer.

The described film structure allows the formation of rupture seals 35, 36 due to the connection with each other of the inner layers of the film (i.e., easily openable sealant with openable sealant). In addition, by bonding the outer layer to the inner layer of the film (i.e., a conventional seal with an easily open seal), a lap seal 37 can be formed. Thus, the lap seal 37 is a conventional (rigid) connection due to the connection of the outer seal with the inner seal. The strength of the lap seal 37 can also be increased due to the pressure applied during opening. In particular, during opening, pressure is applied in such a direction that a force is collected that collects into the assemblies, and not the force of separation of the seal directly at a right angle.

In addition to the inner and outer layers of the seal described above, the film used to form the pouch 30 may optionally contain one or more additional layers. Examples of such layers include (without limitation) barrier layers, protective layers, core layers, tie layers, bulk layers, and the like. Specialists in the art know many polymers and polymer blends that can be included in each of these layers. A multilayer film can be used to form a pouch 30, regardless of the particular structure, provided that its inner layer contains an easily openable seal and the outer layer contains a conventional seal. In addition, one or more additives conventional for packaging films may be included in the film. Examples of additives that can be used include, but are not limited to, anti-slip agents, anti-slip agents, colorants, flavors, preservatives, stabilizers, oxidation inhibitors, UV absorbers, crosslinking enhancers, crosslinking inhibitors, and the like, well known to those skilled in the art.

Thus, various combinations of layers can be used to form the pouch 30 according to the present invention. The following are some non-limiting examples with lettering of the film layers: A / B, A / B / A, A / B / C, A / B / D, A / B / E, A / B / C / D, A / B / C / E, A / B / E / E ′, A / B / D / E, A / B / D / C, A / B / C / B / A, A / B / C / D / A, A / B / E / B / A, A / B / C / D / E, A / B / C / E / D, A / B / D / C / D, A / B / D / C / E, A / B / D / E / C, A / B / D / E / E ′, A / B / E / C / E, A / B / E / C / D, A / B / E / D / D ', A / B / E / D / E, in which A means a layer of a sealant; B means a bulk layer or a layer of a sealant (depending on whether it is an inner or outer layer of a film); C means a barrier layer; D and D ′ mean bulk and / or protective layers (depending on whether they are the inner or outer layer of the film); and E and E ′ are protective layers. Of course, one or more bonding layers (“T”) can be used between any one or more layers of the described structures of the multilayer film.

The film used to form the pouch 30 may contain from 2 to 20 layers; in some embodiments, from 2 to 12 layers; in some embodiments, from 2 to 9 layers; and in some embodiments, from 3 to 8 layers. Thus, in some embodiments, the described film may have 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 layers. Those skilled in the art will agree that the described film may have more than 20 layers, as in embodiments in which microlayer technology is used in the film components.

Accordingly, the film may have any overall thickness, provided that it provides the desired properties for the particular packaging operation in which the film is applied. However, in some embodiments, the described film has a total thickness of from about 0.1 to about 15 mils; in some embodiments, from about 0.2 mil to about 10 mil; and in some embodiments, from about 0.3 mil to about 5.0 mil.

The film used to form the bag 30 can be produced by thermoplastic film-forming methods known from the art (for example, extrusion of a tubular or blown film, coextrusion, coating by extrusion, extrusion of a film flat or cast from a solution, etc.). A combination of these methods may also be used.

Although the pouch 30 may be formed by any of a variety of methods known to those skilled in the art, in some embodiments, the pouch may be formed using vertical molding-filling-capping (VFFS) technology. One example of such a system is the Onpack ™ packaging system, marketed by Cryovac / Sealed Air Corporation (Saddle Brook, NJ, USA). VFFS technology is known to those skilled in the art and is described, inter alia, in US Pat. the order references are included in this application.

Using this technology, VFFS first feeds a horizontally stacked thermoplastic film through a forming device to form a sleeve film. Then perform a longitudinal (vertical) seam or lap seal, and using heated welding strips, seal the sleeve in the transverse direction and thereby form the lower mechanical seal. A product (such as a marinade) is pumped through a central vertical packaging sleeve into the formed sleeve film. Then, the formation of the bag is completed by sealing the upper end of the sleeve portion, and the bag is separated from the sleeve film above it. The process can be carried out in two stages, at the same time a transverse heat seal is formed at one stage, after which it is cooled and thereby strengthened with a separate pair of cooling / clamping means. Some VFFS technologies provide for the formation of an upper transverse seal of the first bag and a lower transverse seal of the next bag. Then the bags are cut between the two transverse seals and thereby separate them without the need for a separate step of clamping, cooling, clamping, cooling and cutting the seals.

In some embodiments, the pouch 30 may be partially filled with the additive. In other words, the contents of the bag may occupy less than the entire volume of the bag. In these embodiments, the bag can be easily moved or shaped as desired while maintaining the integrity of the bursting seals. In addition, due to this partial filling of the bag, the likelihood of breaking the bursting seals under normal operating conditions, such as transportation, etc., is reduced. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the contents of the implementation of the bag may occupy less than about 95% of the total volume of the closed bag; in some embodiments, from about 20% to about 80% of the total volume of the bag; and in some embodiments, from about 30% to about 70% of the total volume of the bag.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the described invention is not limited to pouches formed using the described VFFS technology. Accordingly, the bag 30 can be formed by any of a variety of methods known from packaging production, including (without limitation) horizontal molding-packing-capping.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the formation of burst seals 35, 36 is not limited to the VFFS technology described above. Accordingly, the described invention includes embodiments in which burst pouch seals are formed by any of a variety of methods known in the art. For example, rupture seals 35, 36 can be formed using one or more of the following: incompatible materials, zone crosslinking, glue, ultrasonic welding, heat welding, crimping, binders, compression, pressing, punching with needles, compression, pneumatic entangling, etc. P. A combination of these methods may also be used. Typically, rupture seals 35, 36 have lower strength than the seal 45 along the outer perimeter and / or the seal 50 along the inner perimeter.

III.D. Top film 40

Figure 4 shows a view of the upper packaging film 40. In particular, the upper film 40 has first and second side edges 75, 76 and upper and lower edges 80, 81. The upper film 40 can be used in the form of a sheet or film and can be any of the films widely used in packages of the type described.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the top film 40 may have a single layer or multilayer structure formed by any suitable method, including coextrusion, layering, extrusion coating, and combinations thereof. However, the films used usually have two or more layers, which gives the film a variety of properties, such as sealing, gas impermeability and rigidity. For example, the upper film 40 may have one or more barrier layers, protective layers, tie layers, sealing layers and / or bulk layers known to those skilled in the art. The polymer components used to make the upper film 40 may also contain appropriate amounts of other additives typically included in such compositions. For example, slip protection agents (such as talc), oxidation inhibitors, fillers, dyes, pigments, radiation stabilizers, antistatic agents, elastomers and the like can be added.

Accordingly, various combinations of layers can be used to form the upper film 40 according to the present invention. The following are some non-limiting examples with the lettering of the film layers: A / B, A / B / A, A / B / C, A / B / D, A / B / E, A / B / C / D, A / B / C / E, A / B / E / E, A / B / D / E, A / B / D / C, A / B / C / B / A, A / B / C / D / A, A / B / E / B / A, A / B / C / D / E, A / B / C / E / D, A / B / D / C / D, A / B / D / C / E, A / B / D / E / C, A / B / D / E / E ′, A / B / E / C / E, A / B / E / C / D, A / B / E / D / D ′ , A / B / E / D / E, in which A means a layer of a sealant; B means a bulk layer or a layer of a sealant (depending on whether it is an inner or outer layer of a film); C means a barrier layer; D and D ′ mean bulk and / or protective layers (depending on whether they are the inner or outer layer of the film); and E and E ′ are protective layers. Of course, one or more bonding layers (“T”) can be used between any one or more layers of the described structures of the multilayer film.

Thus, in some embodiments, the top film 40 has a total of about 2 to about 20 layers; in some embodiments, from about 4 to about 12 layers; and in some embodiments, from about 5 to about 9 layers. In some embodiments, the described film may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 layers. Those skilled in the art will agree that the described film may have more than 20 layers, as in embodiments in which microlayer technology is used in the film components.

Accordingly, the film 40 may have any overall thickness, provided that it provides the desired properties for the particular packaging operation in which the film is applied. Final thickness may vary depending on technology, end use, etc. Typical thicknesses may be from about 0.1 to 20 mils; in some embodiments, from about 0.3 to 15 mil; in some embodiments, from about 0.5 to 10 mils; in some embodiments, from about 1 to 8 mil; in some embodiments, from about 3 to 6 mils, and in some embodiments, from about 4 to 5 mils.

In some embodiments, the top film 40 may be translucent (at least in areas without printed elements), allowing the contents of the package to be seen through the film. Used the term "translucent" means that the material transmits light with negligible scattering and negligible absorption, which allows you to clearly see the contents (for example, a packaged food product or print) through the packaging material under standard viewing conditions with the naked eye (i.e. under the expected conditions application of the material). The degree of permeability (i.e. transparency) of the film can be at least about any of the following values: 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85% and 95%, measured according to ASTM D1746.

III.E. Food product 25

As described in detail above, in some embodiments, the first compartment 15 of the package 5 may contain a food product, such as a piece of meat. Examples of food products useful in the present invention may include, without limitation, beef, poultry such as poultry (including chicken, ducks, goose, turkey, etc.), buffalo, camel, crustacean (including mollusk, scallop, mussels, oysters, lobster, crayfish, crab, shrimp, etc.), dogs, fish (including salmon, trout, eel, cod, herring, flounder, hake, halibut, turbot, burbot, squid, tuna, sardines, swordfish, sea dog, shark, etc.), game (including deer, cann, antelope, etc.), game birds (such pigeon, quail, doves, etc.), goats, hare, horses, kangaroos, lamb, marine mammals (including whales, etc.), amphibians (including frogs, etc.), monkeys , pigs, rabbits, reptiles (including turtles, snakes, alligator, etc.) and / or sheep. In some embodiments, the food product may be whole, diced, minced, chopped, stripped and / or a meatball.

In some embodiments, meat substitutes that fall within the term “meat” are used. Such meat substitutes may come close to certain types of meat in terms of their aesthetic properties and / or chemical characteristics. Meat substitutes may include, but are not limited to, seitan, rice, mushrooms, legumes, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, soybean concentrate, Quorn based on mycoprotein, modified nonfat peanut flour and / or pressed tofu to produce a meat substitute that looks and / or tastes chicken, beef, lamb, ham, sausage, seafood, etc.

In some embodiments, the food product may contain one or more kinds of vegetables. Vegetables especially suitable for use in the present invention may include, without limitation, artichokes, asparagus, beans, bean sprouts, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, celery, corn, kale, eggplant, green pepper, leek, mushrooms, leaf mustard, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, red peppers, rhubarb root, spinach, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, turnips, chili, watercress, pit, yellow pepper and / or zucchini. In some embodiments, the vegetables may be diced, chopped, chopped and / or strips.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the food product usable for use is not particularly limited. The described methods and packaging can be used with raw (i.e. not cooked) food products, partially cooked food products and / or pre-cooked food products, while heat treatment refers to heat treatment, full heat treatment processing and / or heating the food product. Thus, the selected food product may be any type of product suitable for consumption in food. The food product may not be processed, not dried, raw, and may contain mixtures of whole muscle tissue. Whole pieces of meat may be fresh, although frozen or partially frozen foods may also be used. Since, during freezing, the softness of meat increases due to rupture of interfibrillar tissue due to the formation of ice crystals, when using such products with the packaging and methods described in the invention, the increased softness resulting from freezing can be taken into account.

III.F. Additive 31

As described in detail above, in some embodiments, an additive, such as a marinade, may be contained in the second compartment 20 of the package 5. The amount of additive used in the present invention depends on the type and amount of food additive added. The nutritional supplement may be used in any form, including but not limited to liquid, paste, powder, and / or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the nutritional supplement may be used in the form of a liquid or powder, for reasons of handling, preservation, and the like. If the food supplement of the present invention is used in the form of a liquid, it may be a solution or dispersion in water or a water-based liquid, or a solution or dispersion in a fixed oil.

In some embodiments, the nutritional supplement may contain one or more enzymatic softening agents to impart a soft consistency to the meat product. In particular, one or more proteolytic enzymes can be added to a food supplement to break peptide bonds in proteins and thereby give a soft consistency to meat. Proteolytic enzymes useful for use in the present invention may include, without limitation, bromelain from pineapple and papain from papaya, achromopeptidase, aminopeptidase, ancrod, angiotensin converting enzyme, bromelain, calpain, calpain I, calpain II, carboxypeptidase A, carboxypeptidase A, carboxypeptidase B, carboxypeptidase B , carboxypeptidase P, carboxypeptidase W, carboxypeptidase Y, caspase, caspase 1, caspase 2, caspase 3, caspase 4, caspase 5, caspase 6, caspase 7, caspase 8, caspase 9, caspase 10, caspase 11, caspase 11, caspase 11, caspase 11, caspase 11, caspase 11 katep in B, cathepsin C, cathepsin D, cathepsin G, cathepsin N, cathepsin L, chymopapain, chymase, chymotrypsin a-, clostripain, collagenase, complement Clr, complement Cls, complement factor D, complement factor I, cummisin, dipeptazide IV, dipeptidazide (leukocyte), elastase (pancreatic), Arg-C endoproteinase, Asp-N endoproteinase, Glu-C endoproteinase, Lys-C endoproteinase, enterokinase, factor Xa, ficin, furin, granzyme A, granzyme B, HIV protease, IGase, IGase, tissue protease, IGase kallikrein, leucine aminopeptidase (total), leucine aminopeptidase (cytosolic), leucine aminopeptidase (micro omal), matrix metalloprotease, methionine aminopeptidase, neutrase, papain, pepsin, plasmin, prolidase, pronase E, specific antigen of the prostate gland, protease (alkalophilic form), Streptomyces griseus, protease from Aspergillus, protease from Aspergillus sai Aspergillus sai protea protease (B. licheniformis) (alkaline), protease (B. licheniformis) (alkalase), protease from Bacillus polymyxa, protease from Bacillus sp, protease from Bacillus sp (Esperase), protease from Rhizopus sp., protease S, proteasome, protease from Aspergillus oryza proteinase 3, proteinase A, proteinase K, C-reactive protein, pyroglutamate aminopeptidase, renin, chymosin, streptokinase, subtilisin, thermolysin, thrombin, tissue plasminogen activator, trypsin, tryptase, urokinase, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the nutritional supplement may contain additional components, including, without limitation, bactericides, fungicides or other preservatives, wetting agents (e.g. Tween), oxidation inhibitors, viscosity adjusters (e.g. gums), brine (e.g. sodium chloride, phosphates, dextrose), hardeners (e.g. nitrites, sugars, erythorbate), flavoring agents (e.g. herbs, spices and smoke liquid), etc.

IV. Methods of forming the package 5

On figa and 1b shows that the package 5 can be closed from all four edges. In some embodiments, one or more of the edges may be sealed edges. For example, if the package 5 is initially formed from two separate sheets of plastic film, all four edges may be sealed edges. Thus, the package 5 can be formed by heat sealing the upper and lower films 40, 10, resulting in a package containing the food product 25 and the bag 30 in the first and second compartment 15 and 20, respectively. In particular, the upper film 40 may be in contact with the lower film 10 along the perimeter of the package. Then, the compartments and the upper film 40 sealed around the perimeter of the lower film with the compartments can be evacuated to form a seal 45 around the outer perimeter.

In some embodiments, the heat sealing operation may be performed at the packaging plant using a heat sealing machine designed for high speed operation. Heat seal can be performed by any of several techniques known in the art, including limitations on heat conductive heat seal, pulse welding, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, and / or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the heat seal machine has a heated weld strip that presses the upper and lower films 40, 10 against each other, resulting in a seal 45 around the outer perimeter. Typically, three variables can be considered during heat sealing: temperature of the weld strip, residence time and sealing pressure. Weld strip temperature means the surface temperature of the weld strip. The residence time may mean a period of time during which the heated welded strip is in contact with the film and gives off heat in order to soften at least part of the film (for example, the sealing layers of the film), as a result of which they can be connected to each other. Sealing pressure may mean the amount of compressive force of the films during this heat transfer. All of these variables can be appropriately changed to make the packaging applicable for use in the present invention.

The formed perimeter seal can continuously extend along the outer edge of the package 5 and hermetically seal or seal the food product and bag. Thus, the upper and lower films 40, 10 can form a predominantly gas-tight shell protecting the bag and food product from contact with the environment, including atmospheric oxygen, dirt, dust, moisture, liquids, microbial pollutants, and the like. In some embodiments, food product 25 and additive 31 may be packaged with a modified medium to prolong shelf life or prevent fading. One example of such packaging is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,686,126 to Noel et al., The entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Although the seal 45 around the outer perimeter of the upper and lower films 40, 10 may be heat-sealed, it is within the scope of the present invention to use, if desired or necessary, other adhesive or mechanical seals (e.g., clamps). In particular, adhesives (such as an ionomer layer) can be applied according to the desired scheme or sealed at a certain temperature, which provides adhesion in direct proportion, i.e. when using more adhesive or at a higher temperature, a stronger seal can form, and when using less adhesive or at a lower temperature, a less durable seal can be formed.

Figures 5a-5e illustrate several embodiments of a package 5 comprising a seal 50 around an inner perimeter. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, an inner perimeter seal may be formed between the upper film 40 and the lower film 10 in a region at least on one side adjacent to the second compartment 20. Thus, in some embodiments, the seal 50 along the inner perimeter can be at least partially formed in the partition 17. In some embodiments, the seal 50 along the inner perimeter can be formed using a heat seal machine having a welded strip that compresses the upper the first film 40 and the lower film 10 and forms a seal. Although the seal 50 around the outer perimeter of the upper and lower films 40, 10 may be heat-sealed, it is within the scope of the present invention to use other adhesive or mechanical seals, such as clamps, if desired or necessary. In particular, adhesives can be applied according to the desired pattern or sealed at a certain temperature, which provides adhesion in direct proportion. In some embodiments, an inner perimeter seal may be formed using a common welding head if the ends of the bag 30 enter the compartment 15 and are coated with the product.

The seal 45 around the outer perimeter and the seal 50 around the inner perimeter can be strong enough to withstand the expected operating conditions. For example, the adhesion strength of the seals 45, 50 may be at least about any of the following values: 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 10 psi or more. As used, the term “heat seal seal bonding strength” may mean the amount of force required to separate the upper and lower films 40, 10, measured in accordance with ASTM F88-94 at an Instron tensile test crosshead speed of 5 inches per second using five typical samples 1 inch wide. In some embodiments, perimeter seals may have a strength equal to or greater than the strength of the films themselves, or otherwise be considered permanent or rigid seals.

A seal 50 around the inner perimeter may overlap at least one of the bursting seals 35, 36 of the bag 30. For example, FIG. near the second compartment 20. In such embodiments, the upper wall of the bag in the region of at least one of the bursting seals is hermetically connected to the upper film 40, and the lower wall of the bag in the area of m nshey least one of discontinuous seals sealingly connected to the lower film 10, as shown at 5b.

As shown in FIG. 5c, in some embodiments, the bag 30 can be double-folded along the fold line 51 before being placed in the package 5. FIG. 5g and FIG. 5d show the bag illustrated in FIG. near which both rupture seals 35, 36 are located. In these embodiments, the formed seal 50 along the inner perimeter can be in contact with both rupture seals of the bag. Accordingly, two sections of the upper wall of the bag will be hermetically connected to the upper film and the lower film (due to the folding of the bag).

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5a-5d, the seal 50 along the inner perimeter creates a channel 85 through which the additive can ultimately travel, as described in more detail below. In these embodiments, the pouch 30 may be filled with a large amount of additive. In addition, the additive can only move in one direction (channel 85) and exit the bag 30 through a bursting seal 35 and / or 36.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the L-shaped seal around the inner perimeter illustrated in FIGS. 5a-5e is just one example of a configuration that can be used. It will be appreciated that the seal around the inner perimeter may have any of a variety of configurations, provided that at least a portion of the seal along the inner perimeter overlaps at least one burst seal of the bag.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the seal 50 along the inner perimeter may extend over the entire length of the package (i.e., without creating a channel). For example, as shown in FIG. 6 a, in some embodiments, the formed seal 50 around the inner perimeter may be in contact with one rupture seal of the bag 30, which is located near the second compartment 20. In such embodiments, the upper wall of the bag in the region of at least one of the rupture of the seals is sealed to the upper film 40, and the bottom wall of the pouch in the region of at least one of the bursting seals is sealed to the bottom film 10. In the same manner as shown in figb, in some embodiments, the implementation of the bag 30 can be doubled and placed in the second compartment 20, which are located near both of the bursting seals 35, 36. In these embodiments, the implementation of the formed seal 50 along the inner perimeter can be in contact with both bursting seals of the bag. Accordingly, two sections of the upper wall of the bag will be hermetically connected to the upper film and the lower film (due to the folding of the bag).

Those skilled in the art will understand that instead of folding the bag 30 in half, as shown in FIGS. 5c and 6b, the bag can be bent at a certain angle, and both rupture seals will be individually included in the seal 50 along the inner perimeter, as shown in FIG. .7a. In these embodiments, the inner circumferential seal may be of any shape (such as a wedge-shaped), provided that it extends along at least one of the rupture seals. It should also be noted that the opposite case is also possible. In other words, in some embodiments, the pouch 30 may be formed so that the rupture seals extend at a certain angle. When the pouch is folded in these embodiments, a straight line is formed as shown in Fig. 7b and Fig. 7c. In embodiments in which the pouch 30 is folded, the pouch can be secured at an appropriate bend angle using an adhesive or heat seal, known to those skilled in the art.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may also be provided in the present invention in which several bags are placed in the second compartment 20. For example, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to use several marinades to flavor a piece of meat. One such embodiment is illustrated in FIG. It is understood that all described single-bag packages may also contain multiple bags.

V. Methods of use for packaging 5

As described in detail above, the present invention provides packaging for pickling and / or heating a food product. In particular, the package 5 has a lower film, which contains at least two compartments. In the first compartment, the food product may advantageously be contained, and in the second compartment the sac may advantageously be contained. The bag has first and second rupture seals, and one or more additives (such as marinade) are placed in it. The upper film is hermetically connected to the lower film along the perimeter of the package by means of a seal around the outer perimeter. In addition, the package has at least one seal on the inner perimeter, which is in contact with at least one of the bursting seals of the bag and separates the first and second compartments, until it becomes desirable to mix the additive and the food product.

Thus, the user can optionally push the package 5 with his thumbs or a hard object to squeeze the second compartment 20 and thereby the bag 30, which is mainly placed inside it. After compression, at least one of the bursting seals 35, 36 of the bag is broken, and the additive 31 contained in the bag flows into the first compartment 15 and mixes freely with the food product 25. In embodiments in which the seal 50 forms an channel 85 around the inner perimeter (as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5a-5d), the additive flows out of the bag 30, enters the first compartment 15 through the channel 85 and comes into contact with the food product 15. In embodiments where the seal around the inner perimeter is not azuet channel 85 (as in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b), the additive flows from the pouch 30 directly to the first compartment 15 and in contact with the food product 25.

The seal 45 around the outer perimeter is strong enough to minimize the likelihood of it breaking or any other leakage during the mixing process. Accordingly, the additive 31 and the food product 25 remain in the package 5 even when pressed by the user. In some embodiments, to facilitate mixing, the user can shake or rotate the package 5 to completely mix the food product and the additive.

Then the contents of the package 5 can be pickled for the desired time. In some embodiments, the contents of the package may be aged for a sufficient amount of time so that food 25 acquires the desired degree of softness. Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, a method for controlling the amount of additive mixed with a food product is provided.

VI. Benefits of packaging 5

The bag of additive 31 may provide one or more advantages in addition to the advantages obvious to those skilled in the art. For example, by filling the bag 30 with a food additive before it is placed in the second compartment 20, the likelihood of premature mutual contamination of the additive 31 and the food product 25 can be minimized.

In addition, in the case of methods known from the art for simultaneously placing the additive and the food product directly in the packaging compartments, it may be necessary to freeze the food additive to ensure fast operation of the equipment, as well as to prevent the instantaneous evaporation of the liquid when the food product is evacuated. Such freezing can be costly and time consuming and keep the temperature below 0 ° F. In addition, condensation may form on the surface of the package during thawing of the food additive after packaging operations, which creates aesthetic and functional problems. A liquid additive may be used in the present invention, which enhances handling.

In addition, when using a pouch for a food additive, the bottom film may be specifically configured to accommodate the food product, and the pouch may be specifically configured to accommodate the additive. For example, in some embodiments, the bottom film materials may be “breathable,” which may be preferred for foods such as fish or chicken. Similarly, pouch materials may contain barrier layers that are preferred for the additive.

In some embodiments, the bag can be individually labeled or printed, and then placed in the primary packaging, which allows the user to choose an additive of one type or another without replacing the top sheet of film used for packaging, even if it is designed for a particular food product.

The use of the bag also allows you to specifically configure seals for specific functions. For example, as described above, the seal around the outer perimeter of the package 5 is a rigid seal that reduces the likelihood of a rupture or other leakage of the package, even if the user compresses or shakes the package to mix the additive and the food product. However, the burst seal of the pouch is specifically designed for tearing so that the additive and food product can mix.

As indicated above, the package 5 contains a seal 50 along the inner perimeter, which separates the components in the first and second compartments before mixing. As a result, any leakage or leakage of the food product 25 located in the first compartment 15 is prevented into the second compartment in which the bag 30 is placed. Thus, the package 5 maintains an attractive appearance for consumers, and the mutual contamination of the contents of the two packaging compartments is prevented.

In addition, the tooling for forming the package 5 can be adapted at relatively low cost to existing horizontal molding, filling and capping machines. In particular, molds adapted to existing molding and capping containers and trays can be easily designed by those skilled in the art. Thus, the manufacture of packaging 5 requires less equipment and less time for resizing equipment compared to other known packages.

In embodiments where the bag 30 is folded prior to being placed in the second compartment 20, the bag may contain more marinade. In addition, handling during transportation from the marinade packer to the finished packaging manufacturer is facilitated. In particular, rupture seals on flat marinade pouches are less affected by the hydraulic forces generated during transport and / or handling.

Numerous modifications and other embodiments of the described packaging and methods are within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is understood that the described invention should not be limited to the specific embodiments and drawings disclosed in the description, and it is intended that modifications and other embodiments be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used in the description, they are only generic and descriptive, not limiting.

Claims (23)

1. Packaging for pickling a food product containing:
a lower film having at least a first and a second compartment separated by a partition, wherein the first compartment is designed primarily for placement of a food product, and the second compartment is designed primarily for placement of a bag,
a bag, mainly located in the second compartment, designed to accommodate a food additive and containing at least one bursting seal, which is capable of breaking under the action of a given pressure and at least partially closes the partition,
the upper film, the edges of which are hermetically connected along the perimeter of the package with the lower film and at least part of the septum of the lower film in the area overlapping at least one tear seal to separate the first and second compartments, resulting in a hermetically sealed package with a seal on the outer perimeter and seal around the inner perimeter,
wherein after breaking at least one discontinuous seal, the bag and the first compartment form a channel for fluid movement, allowing the food additive to mix with the food product, and
at least one burst seal has a lower burst pressure than the seal on the outer perimeter and the seal on the inner perimeter, and the food product can be pickled directly in the package. 2. The packaging according to claim 1, in which the lower film is a thermoformed film, from which a support element having a first and a second compartment divided into compartments is formed. 3. The packaging according to claim 1, in which the bag is formed using a horizontal molding-filling-capping machine. 4. The package according to claim 3, in which the bag is formed from a film having a layer farthest from the surface containing an easily opened seal and a layer farthest from the center containing a conventional seal. 5. The packaging according to claim 3, in which the bag is formed from a film having a layer of easily openable seal located near the layer furthest from the surface and the layer furthest from the center containing a conventional sealant. 6. The packaging according to claim 1, in which the bag is folded before being placed in the first compartment. 7. The packaging according to claim 1, in which the additive occupies from about 20% to about 80% of the total volume of the bag. 8. The package according to claim 1, in which the seal on the inner perimeter forms a channel. 9. The package of claim 8, in which the depth of the channel does not necessarily increase during molding. 10. Packaging containing:
food product
a bag containing a nutritional supplement and containing at least one bursting seal capable of bursting under the influence of a given pressure,
a lower film having at least a first and a second compartment separated by a partition, wherein the first compartment is designed primarily to accommodate a food product, the second compartment is designed primarily to accommodate a pouch, and at least one burst seal at least partially covers the partition,
the upper film, the edges of which are hermetically connected along the perimeter of the package with the lower film and at least partially with the septum of the lower film in the area overlapping at least one tear seal to separate the first and second compartments, resulting in a hermetically sealed package with a seal on the outer perimeter and seal around the inner perimeter,
wherein after breaking at least one discontinuous seal, the bag and the first compartment form a channel for fluid movement, allowing the food additive to mix with the food product, and
at least one burst seal has a lower burst pressure than the seal on the outer perimeter and the seal on the inner perimeter, and the food product can be pickled directly in the package. 11. The package of claim 10, in which the lower film is a thermoformed film, from which a support element having a first and a second compartment divided into compartments is formed. 12. The package of claim 10, in which the bag is formed using a horizontal molding-filling-capping machine. 13. The package according to item 12, in which the bag is formed from a film having a layer farthest from the surface containing a seal that can be easily opened and a layer farthest from the center containing a conventional seal. 14. The package according to item 12, in which the bag is formed from a film having a layer of easily openable seal located near the layer furthest from the surface and the layer farthest from the center containing a conventional sealant. 15. The package of claim 10, in which the bag is folded before being placed in the first compartment. 16. The package of claim 10, in which the additive occupies from about 20% to about 80% of the total volume of the bag. 17. The package of claim 10, in which the seal on the inner perimeter forms a channel. 18. A method of controlling the amount of a food additive mixed with a food product, including:
the formation of the bearing element of the package, which contains the first compartment, designed primarily for placement of the food product, and the second compartment, designed mainly for placement of the bag, while the first and second compartments are separated by a partition,
the formation of the bag, designed for placement of food additives,
loading a nutritional supplement into a bag,
sealing the food additive in the bag with at least one bursting seal capable of tearing and allowing the food additive to exit the bag,
loading the food product into the first compartment of the carrier element,
loading the bag into the second compartment of the carrier element, wherein at least one bursting seal at least partially overlaps the partition, and after the bursting of the bursting, the bag and the first compartment form a fluid passage allowing the food additive to mix with the food product, and
hermetically connecting the carrier with the film around the perimeter of the package by sealing along the outer perimeter and at least partially with a baffle in the area overlapping at least one bursting seal using the seal on the inner perimeter to separate the first and second compartments, resulting in the first package able to withstand a given pressure and prevent leakage of a food additive and food product from it during mixing of the food additive and food product. 19. The method according to p, in which the lower film is a thermoformed film, from which is formed divided into compartments of the supporting element having the first and second compartments. 20. The method according to p, in which the bag is formed using a horizontal molding-filling-capping machine. 21. The method according to claim 20, in which the bag is formed from a film having a layer farthest from the surface containing an easily openable seal and a layer farthest from the center containing a conventional seal. 22. The method according to p, in which the bag is folded before being placed in the first compartment. 23. The method according to p, in which the seal on the inner perimeter forms a channel.

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