SE2051377A1

SE2051377A1 - A sealed tray package

Info

Publication number: SE2051377A1
Application number: SE2051377A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Kati Tukiainen; Mari Hiltunen; Tanja Salomies; Tim Lindfors
Original assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
Priority date: 2020-11-26
Filing date: 2020-11-26
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Also published as: WO2022112915A1; EP4251537A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a sealed tray package (100) for a food product, the sealed tray package (100) comprising a tray (110). The tray (110) comprising a compartment (112) having a bottom wall (115) and one or more sidewalls (116a-d) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (115), the compartment (112) being arranged to receive the food product, and a rim (114) extending outwardly from an upper portion of the one or more sidewalls (116a-d) of the compartment (112) and surrounding the compartment (112) at an upper open end (116) of the tray (110). The sealed tray package (100) further comprising a cover (120) covering the upper open end (116) and being sealed to the rim (114) of the tray (110) thereby forming a sealed tray (110), and one or more bands (130) being wrapped tightly on an outside of the sealed tray (110) and around at least a portion of the sealed tray (110) along a wrapping direction (WD), such that respective band (130) is attached to the cover (120) at an upper side (142) of the sealed tray (110) and extends tightly towards the bottom (115) of the compartment (110) and is attached to a lower side (144) of the sealed tray (110).

Description

A SEALED TRAY PACKAGE Field of inventionThe invention relates to a sealed tray package.

Technical BackgroundNowadays food products are often packaged in trays e.g. disposable trays. Such trays often have a cover to protect the food product inside the trayagainst e.g. dirt. Examples of such trays having cover are some airline mealsor ready meals. However, the trays having cover often lose their shape whenbeing exposed to e.g. a chi||ed condition such that sidewalls of the trayco||apse inwardiy. Moreover, the trays having cover may even more lose theirshape if the cover of the tray does not allow air entering inside the tray. Ashape of the tray may also affect such shape losing problem. For instance,trays with cover having longer side walls may lose their shape even more.

Thus, there is a need to provide a tray having cover that addresses theabovementioned problems.

Summary of invention lt is an object of the invention to provide a sealed tray packageaddressing at least some of the abovementioned problems. ln particular, it isan object of the invention to provide a sealed tray package that may preventor at least mitigate such shape losing problems.

This object has been achieved by a sealed tray package for a foodproduct, the sealed tray package comprising a tray. The tray comprises acompartment having a bottom wall and one or more sidewalls extendingupwardly from the bottom wall, the compartment being arranged to receivethe food product, and comprising a rim extending outvvardly from an upperportion of the one or more sidewalls of the compartment and surrounding thecompartment at an upper open end of the tray. The sealed tray package further comprises a cover covering the upper open end and being sealed to 2 the rim of the tray thereby forming a sealed tray, and one or more bandsbeing wrapped tightly on an outside of the sealed tray and around at least aportion of the sealed tray along a wrapping direction, such that respectiveband is attached to the cover and/or rim at an upper side of the sealed trayand extends tightly towards the bottom wall of the compartment and isattached to a lower side of the sealed tray.

Thereby the one of more bands prevent, or at least mitigate, the sealedtray package losing its shape when being exposed to chilled conditions. lnother words, the one of more bands prevent, or at least mitigate, the sidewalls of the compartment collapsing inwardly. ln addition, the inventiveconcept may be applied to trays having various shapes and dimensions toaddress the losing shape problem. Furthermore, the inventive concept maybe applied to sealed tray packages wherein the cover "airtightly" seals thetray to address the losing shape problem. With "airtightly" it is intended torefer to a situation where the cover does not allow or allows little air enteringinto the tray such that in chilled conditions a pressure of the air inside thesealed tray may risk becoming less than the ambient air pressure. ln overall,the inventive concept provides a simple, easy-to-perform, user-friendly, andcost-effective manner. ln addition, the one of more bands may be used toprovide the user with some information e.g. about the food product. The oneof more bands may easily be torn apart by the user before unsealing the tray.

The term "tightly" it is intended to refer to a situation where the one ormore bands are under tension after they have been wrapped around the trayor at least so tightly stretched that they will be set under tension when theside walls of the sealed tray collapses inwardly.

The one or more bands may be adhesively attached or heat sealed tothe cover. The one or more bands may be adhesively attached or heat sealedto the bottom wall of the compartment. The one or more bands may e.g. beattached to the cover and/or to the bottom by a glue drop, such as a hot-melt,by a double-sided adhesive tape, by the band having an adhesive side, or asealing operation such as a heat sealing operation, such as by ultrasonicsealing. Thereby, the one or more bands may be attached to the cover and to 3 the bottom in a simple, convenient and cost-effective manner. This may alsofacilitate detaching e.g. tearing apart the one or more band by the user.

The one or more bands may each have a Iongitudinal extension and awidth defining a plane. Each band may be flexible in out-of-plane directions.Each band may be rigid or at least resi|ient in plane such that the band maybe capable of providing a tension force between the upper side and the lowerside as seen along the wrapping direction. By the one or more bands beingrigid or at least resi|ient in plane, the one or more bands may retain its shapeand/or size or at least only be marginally deformed when e.g. becomingstretched. The tension force between the upper side and the lower side, asseen along the wrapping direction, may prevent, or at least mitigate, the sidewalls of the compartment from collapsing inwardly. ln other words, the tensionforce between the upper side and the lower side, as seen along the wrappingdirection, may apply an outward force to the side walls of the compartmentand may hence prevent, or at least mitigate, the side walls of thecompartment from collapsing inwardly.

The one or more bands may be attached completely around a middleportion of the sealed tray. Thereby, the one or more bands may be wrappedcompletely around the middle portion of the sealed tray such that twoopposite ends of each of the one or more bands, extending tightly towards thebottom of the compartment, may be connected to each other, such as byoverlapping each other, at the lower side of the sealed tray. By the "middle"portion of the sealed tray is hereby meant a middle portion of the tray along aIongitudinal direction of the tray. A "middle" portion is intended to refer to thata centre of the band, as seen along the Iongitudinal direction, is located withina central one of three portions dividing the tray in three equal portions alongthe Iongitudinal direction. By the "Iongitudinal direction" of the tray is herebymeant a direction along a length of the bottom wall of the compartment.Accordingly, a direction along a width of the bottom wall of the compartmentis referred to as a transversal direction. lt may be noted that in the preferredembodiment, a projection of the wrapping direction onto the bottom wall willextend in parallel with this transversal direction. 4 The one or more bands may be attached partially, preferably onlypartially, around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Thereby, the one or morebands may be wrapped partially around the middle portion of the sealed traysuch that two opposite ends of each of the one or more bands, extendingtightly towards the bottom of the compartment, do not connect to each otherat the lower side of the sealed tray. ln other words, there may be a gapbetween the opposite ends of each respective band at the lower side of thesealed tray.

Alternatively, each of the one or more bands may comprise two sub-parts such that each respective part may be attached to the cover at an upperside of the sealed tray, may extend tightly towards the bottom of thecompartment and may be attached to a lower side of the sealed tray.Thereby, there may be a gap between respective ends of two parts of eachband at the upper side of the sealed tray and there may be a gap betweenrespective ends of two parts of each band at the lower side of the sealed tray.By the one or more bands being attached only partially around the middleportion of the sealed tray, the sealed tray package may be provided in a morecost-effective manner, as less band material may be required. Moreover, thedesign does not interfere with or cover the upper surface of the cover apartfrom over short distances, along the wrapping direction, on each side of thetray, which allows for greater design freedom when designing the sealed traypackage.

The tray may be formed of a single piece of material. Thereby thematerial of the sidewalls and the bottom wall of the compartment may be thesame. Thereby, the tray may be provided in a simple, convenient, fast andcost-effective manner by cutting a single piece of material and shaping, suchas press forming, it into a tray.

The material of the tray may be paper-based. Thereby, the paper-based tray may be disposable and recyclable and hence environmental-friendly.

The one or more bands may be formed of any of or any combination of a paper-based band, a paper-based band having an adhesive side, a polymer-based band, a polymer-based band having an adhesive side, acomposite band having a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer, acomposite band having a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer andan adhesive side.

The cover may be formed of any of or any combination of a polymer-based material, such as plastic, or a paper-based material. Thereby, thecover may be provided in a simple and cost-effective manner. For instance,the cover may be provided by cutting a single piece of plastic or paper in adesired cover shape. ln case the cover is made of a paper-based material, itis typically provided with a polymer-based layer, such as being coated on aninside and/or on an outside surface with a polymer coating.

The width of the one or more bands may be in the range of 5% to 50%,preferably in the range of 10% to 30% of a length of the sealed tray packagein a direction transverse to the wrapping direction. Thereby the one or morebands may cover around 5% to 50% of the sealed tray in the longitudinaldirection of the tray. This allows on one hand for a strong tension force aidingin keeping the intended shape of the tray and allows on the other hand thefood product to still remain visible through a transparent cover. The width ofthe one or more bands should preferably be at least 5%, and more preferablybe at least 10%, of the longitudinal length of the rims extending along thelongitudinally extending side walls. That is, the one or more bands shouldpreferably make use of at least 5%, and more preferably of at least 10%, ofthe available extension of the rims along the longitudinally extending sidewalls. The one or more bands should preferably cover at the most 50%, andmore preferably at the most 30%, of the longitudinal extension of thecompartment.

The side walls may extend vertically upwardly from the bottom wall.

Alternatively, the side walls may extend inclined upwardly andoutvvardly an angle being between 5° and 30° relative to a direction extendingvertically upwardly from the bottom wall.

According to another aspect of the invention a method for providing asealed tray package for a food product is provided. The method comprises 6 providing a tray comprising a compartment having a bottom wall and one ormore sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the compartmentbeing arranged to receive the food product, and a rim extending outvvardlyfrom an upper portion of the one or more sidewalls of the compartment andsurrounding the compartment at an upper open end of the tray. The methodfurther comprises providing a cover covering the upper open end and sealingthe cover to the rim of the tray thereby forming a sealed tray. The methodfurther comprises providing one or more bands and tightly wrapping the oneor more bands on an outside of the sealed tray and around at least a portionof the sealed tray along a wrapping direction, such that respective bandbecomes attached to the cover and/or rim at an upper side of the sealed trayand extends tightly towards the bottom wall of the compartment and becomesattached to a lower side of the sealed tray. This aspect may generally present the same or corresponding advantages as the former aspect.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted accordingto their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly definedotherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component,means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least oneinstance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unlessexplicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do nothave to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

Brief description of the drawinqs The invention will by way of example be described in more detail withreference to the appended schematic drawings, which shows a presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective side view of a sealed tray package.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealed tray packageshown in Figure 1 along the line AA.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sealed tray packagewherein a band has been attached completely around a middle portion of the sealed tray. 7 Figures 4-5 illustrate two cross-sectional views of sealed tray packageswherein a band has been attached partially around a middle portion of thesealed tray.

Figure 6 illustrates a block scheme of a method for providing a sealedtray package.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a sealed tray package 100for a food product. ln figure 1, direction X illustrate a longitudinal direction ofthe sealed tray package 100. ln figure 1, direction Y illustrates a transversaldirection of the sealed tray package 100. ln figure 1, direction Z illustrates adirection perpendicular to the directions X and Y.

Figure 1 shows that the sealed tray package 100 comprises a tray 110.The tray 110 may be formed of a single piece of material. For instance, thetray 110 may be a single piece of a blank formed into a tray 110. The tray 110need not be formed of a single piece of material. For instance, the tray 110may be formed of a plurality of material pieces attached to each other. Thematerial of the tray 110 may be paper-based. The material of the tray 110may be any of or any combination of a paper-based material and a polymer-based material. The tray may e.g. be formed of a paper-based material beingprovided with a polymer-based coating one the inside surface and/or on theinside surface. ln this context it may be noted that the tray 110 is typically saidto be of a single piece of material or a single piece blank if it is formed ofsingle piece of a paper-based material being provided with a polymer-basedcoating. The tray may have a length along the X direction, also referred to asthe longitudinal direction, in the range of 10 to 50 cm. The tray may have awidth along the Y direction, also referred to as the transverse direction, in therange of 10 to 30 cm. The tray may have a height along the Z direction in therange of 2 to 8 cm.

Figure 1 shows that the tray 110 comprises a compartment 112. Thecompartment 112 of the tray 110 is arranged to receive the food product. Thetray 110 may comprise a set of plurality of compartments 112 such as three 8 or four compartments 112. This may alternatively be expressed as that thecompartment 112 may comprise sub-compartments. ln the case that the tray110 comprises a plurality of the compartments 112 or sub-compartments,such different compartments 112 or sub-compartments may be configured toreceive different food items. The compartment 112 of the tray 110 has abottom wall 115, which is indicated by dashed lines in figure 1 and which isshown in figure 2, and one or more side walls 116a-d extending upwardlyfrom the bottom wall 115. The bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112,shown in figure 1, has typically a rectangular shape. Figure 1 shows that thebottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 longitudinally extends along the Xdirection. Figure 1 further shows that the bottom wall 115 of the compartment112 transversally extends along the Y direction. A length of the bottom wall115 of the compartment 112 along the X direction may be in the range of 1 to5 cm shorter than the length of the tray 110 along the X direction. A width ofthe bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 along the Y direction may be inthe range of 1 to 5 cm shorter than the length of the tray 110 along the Ydirection. The bottom wall 115 is typically shorter to accommodate theprovision of the rim 114 and/or to accommodate the fact that the side walls116a-d often are inclined upwardly and outwardly. A material thickness of thebottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 along the Z direction may be in therange of 0,5 to 2 mm. The bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 may haveother shapes than rectangular shape. For instance, the bottom wall 115 of thecompartment 112 may have an oval shape. lt may be noted that trays beingsaid to have a rectangular shape, typically have a generally rectangularshape with straight or at least almost straight sides being connected byrounded corners. This is especially true for trays formed of paper-basedmaterials, and especially if such trays formed of paper-based materials arepress formed.

Still in connection with figure 1, the compartment 112 of the tray 110has one or more sidewalls 116a-d. Figure 1 shows that the compartment 112of the tray 110 has four sidewalls 116a-d. The one or more sidewalls 116a-dof the compartment 112 extend upwardly from the bottom wall 115. Figure 1 9 shows that four sidewalls 116a-d of the compartment 112 extend upwardlyfrom two opposite longitudinal and two opposite transversal edges of therectangular bottom wall 115. Figure 1 shows that the one or more sidewalls116a-d of the compartment 112 extend along the Z direction. A height of theone or more sidewalls 116a-d along the Z direction may be in the range of 2to 8 cm. A material thickness of the one or more sidewalls 116a-d may be inthe range of 0,5 to 2 mm. The side walls may extend vertically upwardly. Theside walls may extend inclined upwardly and outwardly an angle (d) beingbetween 5° and 30° relative to the Z direction. ln the case that the tray 110comprises a set of plurality of compartments 112 or that the tray 110comprises sub-compartments, there may be walls in between such plurality ofcompartments 112 or in between such sub-compartments.Still in connection with figure 1, the tray 110 further comprises a rim 114. The rim 114 of the tray 110 extends outwardly from an upper portion ofthe one or more sidewalls 116a-d of the compartment 112. Figure 1 showsthat the rim 114 of the tray 110 has a width extending along the Y directionfrom the longitudinally extending side walls 116a and 116c and extends alongthe X direction from the transversely extending side walls 116b and 116d. Therim 114 of the tray 110 surrounds the compartment 112 at an upper open end116 of the tray 110. The rim 114 of the tray may have a width in the range of0,5 to 3 cm. The rim 114 of the tray may have a material thickness in therange of 0,5 to 2 mm along the Z direction. ln the case that the tray 110comprises a plurality of the compartments 112 or sub-compartments, the rim114 surrounds the set of the plurality of compartments 112 or sub-compartments such that the rim 114 forms one perimeter surrounding the setof plurality of compartments 112 or sub-compartments. Any walls between thesub-compartments may extend all the way up to the same height as the rimand a cover 120, which will be disclosed in detail below, may be sealed notonly to the rim 114 but may also, but need not, be sealed to such wallsbetween the sub-compartments. However, in this context, the rim 114 refersto the rim 114 forming an outer perimeter and especially it refers to theportions of the rim 114 which on one hand extend along the longitudinally extending side walls 116a and 116c and on the other hand have a width in atransversal direction away from the side walls 116a and 116c.

Still in connection with figure 1, the sealed tray package 100 comprisesa cover 120. The cover 120 covers the upper open end 116 of the tray 110.The cover 120 is sealed to the rim 114 of the tray 110, thereby forming asealed tray 110. The cover 120 may be formed of any of or any combinationof a polymer-based material, such as plastic, or a paper-based material. Thecover 120 may be a single piece of material. The cover 120 may comprise asingle layer of material. The cover 120 may comprise a plurality of layers ofmaterials. For instance, the cover 120 may comprise a layer of plasticdeposited on a layer of paper. The cover 120 may be transparent. The cover120 may be non-transparent. The cover 120 may have a length along the Xdirection and along the Y direction basically corresponding to the size of thetray 110. A slight oversize, overall or locally, of the cover 120 may be used toprovide a tear flap making it easier for the user to remove the cover 120 fromthe tray 110. A slight undersize of the cover 120 may be used to secure thatthere is not unintentionally formed an undesired tearflap in any unintendedposition. The cover 120 may be provided in the form of a continuous bandwhich is sealed to the tray 110 and with excessive cover material being cut. lnsuch a case the cover is typically cut ﬂush with the outer perimeter of the rim114 in an operation where the rim 114 and cover 120 is clamped and sealedto each other and the excessive parts of the cover is cut away. The cover 120may be provided in the form of a pre-cut cover 120 being positioned on thetray 110 and sealed to the rim 114. The cover 120 may have a thicknessalong the Z direction in the range of 0,01 to 3mm, with the lower part of therange typically being relevant for polymer-based covers 120 and the upperpart of the range typically being relevant for paper-based covers 120,optionally also provided with polymer-based layers on an inside and/oroutside.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealed tray package 100shown in Figure 1 along the line AA. Figure 2 shows that the cover 120 hasbeen sealed to the rim 114 of the tray 100. The cover 120 may be sealed to 11 the rim 114 by a glue drop, such as hot-melt, by a double-sided adhesivetape, by the band having an adhesive side, or a sealing operation such as aheat sealing operation, such as by ultrasonic sealing. ln the case that the tray110 comprises a set of p|ura|ity of compartments 112 or that the tray 110comprises sub-compartments which are separated by walls, such walls may,but need not, extend up to the cover 120.

Referring back to figure 1, the sea|ed tray package 100 furthercomprises one or more bands 130. The one or more bands 130 are wrappedtightly on an outside of the sea|ed tray 110. Figure 1 shows that the sea|edtray package 100 comprises one band 130. The band 130 may have arectangu|ar shape. The band 130 may have any other shapes such as anoval shape. The one or more bands 130 may each have a |ongitudina|extension and a width defining a plane. Each of the one or more bands 130may be flexible in out-of-plane directions. Each of the one or more bands 130may be rigid or at least resi|ient in plane. Each of the one or more bands 130may be capable of providing a tension force between an upper side 142 andthe lower side 144 as seen along the wrapping direction WD. The one ormore bands 130 may be formed of any of or any combination of a paper-based band, a paper-based band having an adhesive side, a polymer-basedband, a polymer-based band having an adhesive side, a composite bandhaving a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer, a composite bandhaving a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer and an adhesive side.

Still in connection with figure 1, the one or more bands 130 arewrapped tightly around at least a portion of the sea|ed tray 110 along awrapping direction WD. The |ongitudina| extension of the band 130 extendsalong the wrapping direction WD. A length of the one or more bands 130,along the |ongitudina| extension, may be in the range of 5 to 50 cm. lt may benoted that the length of the one or more bands 130 is dependent upon thesize of the tray 110 and on to what extent the one or bands 130 are intendedto extend fully around the tray 110 and cover 120 or only partly extend aroundthe tray 110 and cover 120. However, a band 130 should at least have alength such that it can be attached to the cover 120 or rim 114 on an upper 12 surface of the cover 120 or rim 114 and extend along the associated side wall116a-d and be attached to an under side of the bottom wall 115. Figure 1shows that the width of the band 130 extends along the length of the tray 110.The width of the one or more bands 130 may be in the range of 5% to 50% ofa length of the sealed tray package 100 in a direction transverse to thewrapping direction (WD) and along the longitudinal direction. The width of theone or more bands 130 may be in the range of 2 to 20 cm.Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of a sealed tray package 100.The sealed tray package 100 shown in figure 3 comprises a sealed tray 110.The sealed tray 110 may be provided in the same manner as the sealed tray110, described in relation to figure 1. Figure 3 shows that a band 130 isattached to the cover 120 and/or the rim 114 of the sealed tray 110 at anupper side 142 of the sealed tray 110. The band 130 extends tightly towardsthe bottom 115 of the compartment 110 along the wrapping direction WD.The band 130 is attached to a lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. Figure 3shows that the band 130 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of thecompartment 112 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. lt may benoted that it is preferred that the one or more bands 130 being attached to thecover 120 and/or rim 114 preferably includes that the band 130 is attached tothe cover 120 and/or rim 114 at a portion of the cover 120 and/or rim 114being located close to the rim 114 and more preferably being located suchthat a projection of said portion down onto a geometrical plane coinciding withthe bottom wall 115 is positioned outside the perimeter of the bottom wall115. Figure 3 shows that the band 130 has been attached completely arounda middle portion of the sealed tray 110. ln other words, figure 3 shows thatthe band 130 has been attached completely around a portion arranged in themiddle of the length of the sealed tray 110.ln connection with figure 4, the one or more bands 130 may be attached only partially around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Figure 4shows a cross sectional view of a sealed tray package 100. The sealed traypackage 100 shown in figure 4 comprises a sealed tray 110. The sealed tray110 may be provided in the same manner as the sealed tray 110, described 13 in relation to figure 1. Figure 4 shows that the band 130 has been attachedonly partially around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Figure 4 shows thatthe band 130 is attached to the cover 120 of the sealed tray 110 at an upperside 142 of the sealed tray 110. The band 130 extends tightly towards thebottom 115 of the compartment 110 along the wrapping direction WD. Theband 130 is attached to a lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. Figure 4shows that the band 130 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of thecompartment 112 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. Figure 4further shows that there is a gap G1 in between opposite ends of the band130 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. A size of the gap G1 alongthe Y direction may be in the range of 25% to 75% of the width of the bottomwall 115 of the compartment 112.ln connection with figure 5, the one or more bands 130 may be attached only partially around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Figure 5shows a cross sectional view of a sealed tray package 100. The sealed traypackage 100 shown in figure 5 comprises a sealed tray 110. The sealed tray110, shown in figure 5, may be provided in the same manner as the sealedtray 110, described in relation to figure 1. Figure 5 shows that the band 130has been attached only partially around a middle portion of the sealed tray.Figure 5 shows that the band 130 comprises two sub-parts. Each one of thetwo sub-parts of the band 130 is attached to the cover 120 of the sealed tray110 at an upper side 142 of the sealed tray 110, as shown in figure 5. Eachone of the two sub-parts of the band 130 extends tightly towards the bottom115 of the compartment 110 along the wrapping direction WD. Each one ofthe two sub-parts of the band 130 is attached to a lower side 144 of thesealed tray 110. Figure 5 shows that each one of the two sub-parts of theband 130 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 at thelower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. Figure 5 further shows that there is agap G1 in between opposite ends of the band 130 at the lower side 144 of thesealed tray 110. A size of the gap G1 along the Y direction may be in therange of 25% to 75% of the width of the bottom wall 115 of the compartment112. Figure 5 further shows that there is a gap G2 in between opposite ends 14 of the band 130 at the upper side 142 of the sealed tray 110. A size of thegap G2 along the Y direction may be in the range of 25% to 75% of the widthof the tray 110.

Fig. 6 shows a block scheme of a method 200 for providing a sealedtray package 100 for a food product. The method 200 comprises providing210 a tray 110 comprising a compartment 112 having a bottom wall 115 andone or more sidewalls 116a-d extending upwardly from the bottom wall 115,the compartment 112 being arranged to receive the food product andcomprising a rim 114 extending outwardly from an upper portion of the one ormore sidewalls 116a-d of the compartment 112 and surrounding thecompartment 112 at an upper open end 116 of the tray 110. The methodfurther comprises providing 220 a cover 120 covering the upper open end 116and sealing the cover 120 to the rim 114 of the tray 110 thereby forming asealed tray 110. The method further comprises providing 230 one or morebands 130 and tightly wrapping 240 the one or more bands 130 on an outsideof the sealed tray 110 and around at least a portion of the sealed tray 110along a wrapping direction WD, such that respective band 130 becomesaüachedtothecover120andKwrm1114atanupperQde142<ﬁthesemedtray 110 and extends tightly towards the bottom wall 115 of the compartment110 and becomes attached to a lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110.

Even though it is preferred that the sealed tray package is designed inaccordance with the disclosure in the detailed disclosure of preferredembodiments and the appended drawings, it should be noted that a specificpreferred embodiment of a specific component does not necessarily have tobe combined with a specific embodiment of another component. Thus,advantages associated with a specific embodiment, including one or morefeatures, of a specific component may be accomplished even though theother components are designed in accordance with the more generaldisclosure under the summary of the invention rather than being defined inaccordance with the specific embodiment disclosed in the detailed description. lt is contemplated that there are numerous modifications of theembodiments described herein, which are still within the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can beunderstood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimedinvention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appendedclaims. ln the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elementsor steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Themere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependentclaims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. 1. A sealed tray package (100) for a food product, the sealed tray package(100) comprising: a tray (110) comprising: a compartment (112) having a bottom wall (115) and one or more sidewalls (116a-d) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (115), the compartment (112) being arranged to receive the food product, and a rim (114) extending outwardly from an upper portion of the one or more sidewalls (1 16a-d) of the compartment (112) and surrounding the compartment (112) at an upper open end (116) of the tray (1 10), a cover (120) covering the upper open end (116) and being sealed tothe rim (114) ofthe tray (110) therebyforming a sealed tray (110), and one or more bands (130) being wrapped tightly on an outside of thesealed tray (110) and around at least a portion of the sealed tray (110) alonga wrapping direction (WD), such that respective band (130) is attached to thecover (120) and/or rim (114) at an upper side (142) of the sealed tray (110)and extends tightly towards the bottom wall (1 15) of the compartment (110)and is attached to a lower side (144) of the sealed tray (110).

2. The sealed tray package (100) according to claim 1, wherein the one ormore bands (130) being adhesively attached or heat sealed to the cover(120).

3. The sealed tray package (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oneor more bands (130) being adhesively attached or heat sealed to the bottom wall (1 15) of the compartment (110).

4. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, whereinthe one or more bands (130) each having a longitudinal extension and a width defining a plane, wherein the band (130) is being flexible in out-of-planedirections, and wherein the band (130) is rigid or at least resilient in planesuch that the band (130) is capable of providing a tension force between theupper side (142) and the lower side (144) as seen along the wrappingdirection (WD).

5. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, whereinthe one or more bands (130) are attached completely around a middle portionof the sealed tray (110).

6. The sealed tray package (100) according to any one of the claims 1-4,wherein the one or more bands (130) are attached partially around a middleportion of the sealed tray.

7. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tray (110) is formed of a single piece of material.

8. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, whereinthe material of the tray (110) is paper-based.

9. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, whereinthe one or more bands (130) is formed of any of or any combination of paper-based band, a paper-based band having an adhesive side, a polymer-basedband, a polymer-based band having an adhesive side, a composite bandhaving a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer, a composite bandhaving a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer and an adhesive side.

10. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, whereinthe cover (120) is formed of any of or any combination of polymer-basedmaterial, such as plastic, or a paper-based material.

11. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, whereinthe width of the one or more bands (130) is in the range of 5% to 50%,preferably in the range of 10% to 30%, of a length of the sealed tray package(100) in a direction transverse to the wrapping direction (WD).

12. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, whereinthe side walls (116a-d) are inclined upwardly and outwardly an angle (d)being between 5° and 30° relative to a direction (Z) extending vertically upwardly from the bottom wall (115).

13. A method (200) for providing a sealed tray package (100) for a foodproduct, the method (200) comprising: providing (210) a tray (110) comprising: a compartment (112) having a bottom wall (115) and one or more sidewalls (116a-d) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (115), the compartment (112) being arranged to receive the food product, and a rim (114) extending outwardly from an upper portion of the one or more sidewalls (116a-d) of the compartment (112) and surrounding the compartment (112) at an upper open end (116) of the tray (1 10), providing (220) a cover (120) covering the upper open end (116) andsealing the cover (120) to the rim (114) ofthe tray (110) therebyforming asealed tray (110), and providing (230) one or more bands (130) and tightly wrapping (240) theone or more bands (130) on an outside of the sealed tray (110) and around atleast a portion of the sealed tray (110) along a wrapping direction (WD), suchthat respective band (130) becomes attached to the cover (120) and/or rim(114) at an upper side (142) of the sealed tray (110) and extends tightlytowards the bottom wall (115) of the compartment (110) and becomesattached to a lower side (144) of the sealed tray (110).