US20100307948A1 - Packaging employing both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films - Google Patents

Packaging employing both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100307948A1
US20100307948A1 US12/481,095 US48109509A US2010307948A1 US 20100307948 A1 US20100307948 A1 US 20100307948A1 US 48109509 A US48109509 A US 48109509A US 2010307948 A1 US2010307948 A1 US 2010307948A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
product
film
package
receiving cavity
heat shrinkable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/481,095
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English (en)
Inventor
David J. Domingues
David A. Kirk
Scott Kackman
Susan Hall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Mills Inc
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US12/481,095 priority Critical patent/US20100307948A1/en
Assigned to GENERAL MILLS MARKETING INC. reassignment GENERAL MILLS MARKETING INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DOMINGUES, DAVID J., HALL, SUSAN, KACKMAN, SCOTT, KIRK, DAVID A.
Priority to PCT/US2010/037727 priority patent/WO2010144412A1/fr
Priority to CA2764206A priority patent/CA2764206A1/fr
Priority to EP10786669A priority patent/EP2440464A4/fr
Publication of US20100307948A1 publication Critical patent/US20100307948A1/en
Assigned to GENERAL MILLS, INC. reassignment GENERAL MILLS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GENERAL MILLS MARKETING, INC.
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
    • B65D75/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B65D75/305—Skin packages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/06—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
    • B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/04—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages
    • B65B61/06—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages by cutting
    • B65B61/065—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages by cutting by punching out
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material

Definitions

  • the invention pertains to the art of packaging and, more specifically, to packaging of various products between first and second plastic films in a form, fill and seal system wherein one of the films is shrinkable, but not the other film.
  • VFFS vertical form, fill and seal systems
  • HFFS horizontal form, fill and seal packaging systems
  • a HFFS system can be employed to create product cavities or pouches in a lower film, with the pouches being filled with frozen dough products and sealed with an upper film.
  • a vacuum Prior to fully sealing the pouches, a vacuum is typically drawn in order to reduce the available headspace of the package.
  • evacuating the headspace is appropriate for frozen dough products, employing a vacuum on a refrigerated dough product would inherently destroy nucleation sites for leavener in the dough and, consequently, the overall product.
  • the invention is directed to a method for packaging products between first and second films in a form, fill and seal system, as well as the associated product, wherein one of the films is heat shrunk at least 5% about the product while the other film exhibits no appreciable shrinkage.
  • a flexible product receiving cavity is initially formed in a first film and a product is loaded into the cavity.
  • a second film is positioned across the loaded product receiving cavity and then joined to the first film about a peripheral portion of the product cavity to create a package containing the product.
  • the package is heated to cause the first film to shrink about the product while the second film exhibits no appreciable shrinkage.
  • the applied force is essentially transferred to static pressure within the package.
  • the majority of the product can be tightly wrapped by the first, shrinkable film.
  • product information, advertising and similar indicia can be applied to the second film, even prior to joining the first and second films, without the risk of the indicia being visually distorted, regardless of any product deformation.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packaged dough product prior to heat shrinking of the package in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the packaged dough product of FIG. 2 after heat shrinking.
  • a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system employed in connection with the packaging method of the present invention is generally indicated at 2 .
  • system 2 has associated therewith a first or lower film 5 which runs from a payout reel 7 in the direction of arrow A to a take-up reel 8 .
  • first or lower film 5 which runs from a payout reel 7 in the direction of arrow A to a take-up reel 8 .
  • take-up reel 8 receives the left over or scrap film.
  • take-up reel 8 merely receives lateral edge portions of lower film 5 , such as an inch (approximately 2.54 cm) of either side of film 5 while the remainder of the film 5 is employed in the final package.
  • thermoforming unit 19 is employed to produce product cavities 20 in lower film 5 .
  • thermoforming unit 19 includes a lower cavity mold 21 having a main body 22 formed with recessed cavities 23 .
  • a linear actuator 24 is connected to main body 22 and designed to vertically shift main body 22 during the forming of product cavities 20 .
  • thermoforming unit 19 For use in connection with the forming process, fluid communication lines, such as that indicated at 25 , extend through main body 22 to recessed cavities 23 .
  • thermoforming unit 19 includes an upper cavity mold 30 which also includes a main body 31 from which extend various projection molds 32 that conform to recessed cavities 23 .
  • upper cavity mold 30 is connected to a linear actuator 33 used to vertically shift upper cavity mold 30 during a thermoforming operation.
  • thermoforming devices such as that employed in connection with forming station 18 are widely known in the art and do not form part of the present invention.
  • the function of forming station 18 is to receive heated lower film 5 between lower cavity mold 21 and upper cavity mold 30 at which time the movement of lower film 5 is temporarily stopped, projection molds 32 are mated with recessed cavities 23 in order to reshape lower film 5 to include product cavities 20 .
  • fluid communication lines 25 can be hooked to a vacuum source in order to draw lower film 5 against recessed cavities 23 as well as to subsequently apply a positive pressure to aid in removing the formed product cavities 20 from lower cavity mold 21 after the thermoforming process is complete.
  • filling station 40 can take various forms without departing from the invention. As illustrated, filling station 40 includes a vertical loading unit 42 including a platform 43 from which extend various loading arms 44 used to transport products, such as that indicated at 46 , into the individual product cavities 20 .
  • lower film 5 is advanced to a sealing station 52 .
  • a sealing station 52 At this point, depending on the product being packaged, it may be potentially advantageous to reduce package headspace volume associated with product cavities 20 prior to completing the packaging operation.
  • the headspace can be reduced in various ways. For instance, an external force can be applied to lower film 5 , such as by providing either a fixed or movable plate (not shown) which abuts lower film 5 .
  • a housing including a pressure chamber at sealing station 52 can be employed, such as disclosed in co-owned U.S. Patent Application entitled “HFFS Packaging Method Employing Positive Differential Pressure” filed on even date herewith and incorporated herein by reference.
  • a second or upper film 56 is provided over first film 5 and sealed thereto.
  • the product cavities 20 can be completely sealed or some accommodation for venting can be provided, such as a small seal gap.
  • second film 56 is drawn from a payout reel 57 and delivered through a printing unit 60 .
  • Printing unit 60 is used to provide product information, advertising and similar indicia directly on upper film 56 as generally indicated at 61 in FIG. 2 .
  • the remainder of upper film 56 is directed to a take-up reel 65 .
  • heat source 70 can take various forms, including radiant, convection or conduction heat sources, without departing from the invention.
  • a heat bath is employed wherein packages 68 are introduced into a heated liquid.
  • other heating arrangement could also be employed, such as subjecting package 68 to a heated stream of air or passing package 68 across a radiant heat bed.
  • the heating time can vary depending on various factors including the thickness of film 5 , the temperature associated with heat source 70 and the size of package 68 , the time period is preferably established to correspond to the rate of other unit operations in the overall process.
  • package 68 proceeds to a cutter station 72 wherein a blade element 73 is shifted vertically through the use of a linear actuator 74 against an anvil member 75 in order to cut each package 68 from the overall web defined by the mated lower film 5 and upper film 56 . At this point, package 68 is ready to ship for sale to a consumer.
  • first or lower film 5 is made of a heat shrinkable material, while the material employed for second or upper film 56 is non-shrinking, i.e., exhibits no appreciable shrinkage upon heating. More specifically, film 5 will shrink in accordance with the invention a minimum of 5% and up to 50%, preferably 7-38% and more preferably 13-27%.
  • Known films can be utilized for this purpose, such as CURLON Grade 9506-J, 9580-W and 9581-W flexible films produced by Curwood, a Bemis Company, for the food industry. These films can vary in thickness between approximately 2.75-6.0 mils, although even thicker films could be utilized.
  • the percentage of film shrinkage is not only a function of the particular film employed, but also the applied temperature.
  • non-shrinking film 56 there are various known film products having the necessary criteria, including 1834-K (which is a clear film) and 1839-K (which is a white film) made by Curwood. These films can also range in thickness, while a 3.5 mill 834-K film was found to be effective.
  • shrinking film 5 establishes an external pressure which is effectively applied about package 68 , in effect limiting the extent that package 68 and product 46 can be physically deformed, thereby enhancing the stability of the overall product.
  • This arrangement can be particularly beneficial when packaging a soft or pliable product, such as a refrigerated dough product.
  • the applied compression force is essentially transferred to static pressure within the package 68 . If venting is permitted, the first film 5 will shrink to conform to the shape of the majority of the product in the cavity 20 .
  • the product information, advertising and similar indicia 61 can be applied to upper film 56 , even prior to full or partial sealing of package 68 , without the risk of the indicia 61 being visually distorted.
  • This non-distortion of indicia 61 is perhaps best illustrated in comparing package 68 of soft, deformable refrigerated dough before and after being shrunk as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively wherein the indicia 61 remains intact throughout the shrinking operation.
  • the chart below illustrates the results of a test wherein an approximately 2 lb.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
US12/481,095 2009-06-09 2009-06-09 Packaging employing both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films Abandoned US20100307948A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/481,095 US20100307948A1 (en) 2009-06-09 2009-06-09 Packaging employing both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films
PCT/US2010/037727 WO2010144412A1 (fr) 2009-06-09 2010-06-08 Emballage employant des films à la fois thermorétractables et non thermorétractables
CA2764206A CA2764206A1 (fr) 2009-06-09 2010-06-08 Emballage employant des films a la fois thermoretractables et non thermoretractables
EP10786669A EP2440464A4 (fr) 2009-06-09 2010-06-08 Emballage employant des films à la fois thermorétractables et non thermorétractables

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/481,095 US20100307948A1 (en) 2009-06-09 2009-06-09 Packaging employing both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100307948A1 true US20100307948A1 (en) 2010-12-09

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/481,095 Abandoned US20100307948A1 (en) 2009-06-09 2009-06-09 Packaging employing both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20100307948A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2440464A4 (fr)
CA (1) CA2764206A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2010144412A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016085441A1 (fr) * 2014-11-24 2016-06-02 Bemis Company, Inc. Emballage de film souple pouvant être ouvert à la main
US20160257468A1 (en) * 2013-11-14 2016-09-08 Lactote Pty Ltd Improved Shrink Wrap Packaging
US9809336B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2017-11-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Method for forming packages
US10259602B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2019-04-16 The Procter And Gamble Company Method for forming packages
US10618767B2 (en) 2014-03-06 2020-04-14 The Procter And Gamble Company Method and apparatus for pleating or shaping a web
US10625886B2 (en) 2014-03-06 2020-04-21 The Procter And Gamble Company Method and apparatus for shaping webs in a vertical form, fill, and sealing system
US10737820B2 (en) 2012-07-24 2020-08-11 The Procter And Gamble Company Apparatus for packing products into containers
US10759578B2 (en) 2016-02-24 2020-09-01 Bemis Company, Inc. Multilayer pouch with heat-shrinkable layer

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3494052B1 (fr) * 2016-08-02 2023-02-08 Cryovac, LLC Procede pour le conditionnement d'un produit

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3216832A (en) * 1961-12-21 1965-11-09 Cloud Machine Corp Suction packaging method
US4769245A (en) * 1986-11-04 1988-09-06 Campbell Taggart, Inc. Packaging process for baked goods
US5366744A (en) * 1992-03-26 1994-11-22 Kraft General Foods, Inc. Refrigerated dough package and method
US5896994A (en) * 1994-08-23 1999-04-27 W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. Sealed article
US6656548B1 (en) * 1997-12-30 2003-12-02 Cryovac, Inc. Laminated cook-in film
US20040241292A1 (en) * 2003-05-28 2004-12-02 Qinghuang Geng Packaged dough product in flexible package, and related methods
US20050031814A1 (en) * 2001-09-24 2005-02-10 Dawes Mark Edward Multi-layer polymeric film for packaging ovenable meals
WO2006092290A2 (fr) * 2005-03-01 2006-09-08 Cfs Kempten Gmbh Materiau d'emballage thermoformable presentant des proprietes de retrecissement
US20080193612A1 (en) * 2005-08-11 2008-08-14 Domingues David J Developed Dough Product in Moderately Pressurized Package, and Related Methods
US20080286420A1 (en) * 2007-05-11 2008-11-20 Domingues David J Low pressure dough packaging

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020012803A1 (en) * 1995-03-31 2002-01-31 Kending Terrance D. Heat-shrinkable laminate useful for packaging
DE10227610A1 (de) * 2002-06-20 2004-01-15 Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller GmbH & Co. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verpacken

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3216832A (en) * 1961-12-21 1965-11-09 Cloud Machine Corp Suction packaging method
US4769245A (en) * 1986-11-04 1988-09-06 Campbell Taggart, Inc. Packaging process for baked goods
US5366744A (en) * 1992-03-26 1994-11-22 Kraft General Foods, Inc. Refrigerated dough package and method
US5896994A (en) * 1994-08-23 1999-04-27 W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. Sealed article
US6656548B1 (en) * 1997-12-30 2003-12-02 Cryovac, Inc. Laminated cook-in film
US20050031814A1 (en) * 2001-09-24 2005-02-10 Dawes Mark Edward Multi-layer polymeric film for packaging ovenable meals
US20040241292A1 (en) * 2003-05-28 2004-12-02 Qinghuang Geng Packaged dough product in flexible package, and related methods
US20060263494A1 (en) * 2003-05-28 2006-11-23 The Pillsbury Company Packaged dough product in flexible package, and related methods
WO2006092290A2 (fr) * 2005-03-01 2006-09-08 Cfs Kempten Gmbh Materiau d'emballage thermoformable presentant des proprietes de retrecissement
US20080152772A1 (en) * 2005-03-01 2008-06-26 Cfs Kempten Gmbh Thermoformable Packaging Material Exhibiting Shrinking Properties
US20080193612A1 (en) * 2005-08-11 2008-08-14 Domingues David J Developed Dough Product in Moderately Pressurized Package, and Related Methods
US20080286420A1 (en) * 2007-05-11 2008-11-20 Domingues David J Low pressure dough packaging

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9809336B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2017-11-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Method for forming packages
US10259602B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2019-04-16 The Procter And Gamble Company Method for forming packages
US10737820B2 (en) 2012-07-24 2020-08-11 The Procter And Gamble Company Apparatus for packing products into containers
US20160257468A1 (en) * 2013-11-14 2016-09-08 Lactote Pty Ltd Improved Shrink Wrap Packaging
AU2014351066B2 (en) * 2013-11-14 2018-05-10 Lactote Pty Ltd Improved shrink wrap packaging
AU2016100109C4 (en) * 2013-11-14 2018-07-19 Lactote Pty Ltd Improved shrink wrap packaging
US10618767B2 (en) 2014-03-06 2020-04-14 The Procter And Gamble Company Method and apparatus for pleating or shaping a web
US10625886B2 (en) 2014-03-06 2020-04-21 The Procter And Gamble Company Method and apparatus for shaping webs in a vertical form, fill, and sealing system
WO2016085441A1 (fr) * 2014-11-24 2016-06-02 Bemis Company, Inc. Emballage de film souple pouvant être ouvert à la main
US20170362006A1 (en) * 2014-11-24 2017-12-21 Bemis Company, Inc. Manually Openable Flexible Film Package
US10759578B2 (en) 2016-02-24 2020-09-01 Bemis Company, Inc. Multilayer pouch with heat-shrinkable layer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2440464A4 (fr) 2012-12-05
CA2764206A1 (fr) 2010-12-16
WO2010144412A1 (fr) 2010-12-16
WO2010144412A4 (fr) 2011-03-24
EP2440464A1 (fr) 2012-04-18

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Legal Events

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AS Assignment

Owner name: GENERAL MILLS MARKETING INC., MINNESOTA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DOMINGUES, DAVID J.;KIRK, DAVID A.;KACKMAN, SCOTT;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:023133/0939

Effective date: 20090729

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION

AS Assignment

Owner name: GENERAL MILLS, INC., MINNESOTA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GENERAL MILLS MARKETING, INC.;REEL/FRAME:029682/0075

Effective date: 20120711