WO2000041947A1

WO2000041947A1 - Method, device and system for packaging of food under a special atmosphere, as well as package for food

Info

Publication number: WO2000041947A1
Application number: PCT/NL2000/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Margaretha Theodorus Maria Bongers
Original assignee: Bongers Cornelis Margaretha Th
Priority date: 1999-01-15
Filing date: 2000-01-17
Publication date: 2000-07-20
Also published as: ATE337984T1; AU2465700A; EP1181218B1; DE60030431T2; EP1181218A1; ES2272255T3; DE60030431D1

Abstract

In a method for packing foodstuffs in a packaging under a preservative gas, first the foodstuff will be placed into a tray (19), then within a vacuum room a foil (25) will be sealed along the circumferential of the tray. After that a preservative gas (37, 39) will be injected in the tray via a hollow needle (35) which will be pierced through the foil. At last, the tray will be closed off. This can be done by dividing the tray in a main tray (19) and an auxiliary tray (21) which trays are connected to each other via a bridge (23). The needle (35) will be pierced through the foil (25) at the auxiliary tray (21). After injection the foil (25) between the main tray (19) and the auxiliary tray (21) will be sealed to the bridge (23). Eventually, after this, the auxiliary tray (21) can be removed from the main tray (19). With this method, in theory, it is possible to obtain one packaging with an unlimited number of trays with different gas atmospheres.

Description

METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING OF FOOD UNDER A SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE, AS WELL AS PACKAGE FOR FOOD

5 Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for packing foodstuffs under an 10 atmosphere, comprising placing the foodstuff in a tray which is open on one side, arranging a foil over the open side of the tray, removing the air from the tray and sealing the foil to the tray along at least the largest part of the circumference of the open side of the tray, and inserting a preservative gas into the tray. By tray both a deep-drawn tray as well as a moulded dish can be meant or any other kind of tray. 5

State of the art

Such a method is known from US patent specification 4.831.811. in this document a tray of two deep-drawn bowls and a foil which is present over the open sides 0 of the trays is introduced into a space. Subsequently the foil is sealed along the largest part of the circumference to the trays. After that the space in the trays is sucked vacuum via the opening at the location of the unsealed portion and preservative gasses are introduced into the trays. Finally the remaining portion is sealed and the trays are separated from each other in pairs. Because there are two rows of trays which are separated from each other by a 5 partition during the process, a different preservative gas can be used In each row. Said known method is only suitable for packing different kind of foodstuffs in one packaging with deep-drawn trays under two different gas atmospheres.

Summary of the invention 0

An object of the invention is to provide a method of the kind mentioned in the preamble with which it is possible to obtain one packaging with an in principle unlimited number of trays with different gas atmospheres. To that end a method according to the invention is characterized In that the preservative gas is injected into the tray via a hollow needle, which is pricked thrbugh the foil, after the foil has been sealed along at least the largest part of the circumference to the tray, after which the tray is closed off gastight. By injecting the gas into the trays a different preservative gas can be introduced into each trays of a multiple packaging without any problems.

Preferably the foil is sealed gastight under vacuum conditions along the entire circumference of the tray. However the air present in the tray need not necessarily be removed from the tray first before injecting the preservative gas. By not sealing the foil to the tray over the entire circumference of the tray, the air present in the tray will be driven out of the tray by the preservative gas during injection via the opening at the location of the unsealed portion. After injection the opening has to be closed off by sealing the toil to the tray at that location.

In a packaging various gasses can be injected one after the other via one needle, which gasses mix in the packaging after that. The gasses can also be mixed beforehand and be injected as a mixture via one needle. It is also possible to stick several needles into a packaging in which via each needle a gas is injected after which the gasses mix in the packaging.

An embodiment of the method is characterized in that the tray is divided into a main tray and an auxiliary tray which are connected to each other via a bridge, in which in the bridge a duct between the main tray and the auxillery tray is possibly present and the needle is pricked through the foil at the location of the auxiliary tray, and in which the gastight closing takes place by sealing the foil to the bridge between the main tray and the auxiliary tray. An advantage of this is that it is prevented that the injection needle contacts the foodstuff in the tray.

A further embodiment of the method is characterized in that after sealing the foil to the bridge, the auxiliary tray is removed from the main tray. In this way a packaging is obtained which has the same appearance as the known packagings of such products.

Another embodiment of the method is characterized in that the gastight closing of the tray takes place by applying a sticker on the foil at the location where the needie has been pricked through the foil. This method is among others advantageous when less high demands are made to the appearance of the packaging. A particularly advantageous method according to the invention is characterized in that various kinds of foodstuffs are packed in various trays of one packaging, in which the various trays are closed off by one foil, which foil comprises a composition comprising an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent, in which oxidation of the organic compound can be initiated by radiation, and which foil is only partly irradiated at the location of a number of the trays.

Said foil is known from European patent application EP-A 0 520257. Said method of irradiation is known from international patent application WO 99/21699. Both documents are included in the present patent application by this reference. In this way foodstuff that has to be packed in a oxygen poor surrounding, as well as foodstuff that has to be packed in a oxygen containing surrounding, can simply be packed in one packaging.

It is noted that the advantageous effect of a partly irradiated foil of an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent will also occur if the foodstuffs will be packaged in another way than by injecting apreservative gas via a needle, so that explicit the possibility will be kept open to claim this method of the invention independently from the characteristic that the preservative gas will be injected via a hollow needle.

Another further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that various kinds of foodstuffs are packed in various trays of one packaging, in which the various trays are closed off by one foil, which toil is perforated at the location of one or several of the trays. In this way foodstuffs that breathe, such as vegetables, as well as foodstuffs that do not breathe, can simply be packed in one packaging. The perforations prevent that condensation takes place against the foil as a result of which the contents would no longer be visible. It is noted that the advantageous effect of a partly perforated foil of an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent will also occur if the foodstuffs will be packaged in another way than by injecting apreservative gas via a needle, so that explicit the possibility will be kept open to claim this method of the invention independently from the characteristic that the preservative gas will be injected via a hollow needle.

Yet a further embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the method includes the input into a computer of the kind of foodstuff that has to be packed, the communication via this computer with a database containing data about suitable preservative gasses and foils for packing different foodstuffs, the retrieval of the appropriate preservative gasses and foil for the particular foodstuff, and the output of data by this computer on the subject of the appropriate preservative gasses and foil. Also for this method, it is noted that the advantageous effect of communicating via a computer with a database containing data about appropriate preservative gasses and foils for packing different kinds of foodstuffs will also occur if the foodstuffs will be packaged in another way than by injecting apreservative gas via a needle, so that explicit the possibility will be kept open to claim this method of the invention independently from the characteristic that the preservative gas will be injected via a hollow needle.

An embodiment of said method is characterized in that the method furthermore compromises the control of the packaging device by means of a computer.

A further embodiment of said method is characterized in that the method furthermore compromises the registration of the number of packing cycles performed by the packaging device.

The invention also relates to a device for packing foodstuff according to a method according to the invention comprising a vacuum space and sealing means for sealing a foil to the circumference of a tray with one open side. As regards the device the invention is characterized in that the device furthermore comprises injection means for pricking trough a foil and injecting a preservative gas in a tray.

An embodiment of the device is characterized in that the device comprises further sealing means for sealing a foil to a bridge between an auxiliary tray and a main tray of a tray.

Another embodiment of the device is characterized in that the device furthermore comprises separation means for separating an auxiliary tray from a main tray.

The invention further relates to a packaging for packing foodstuffs according to the method according to the invention, comprising a tray which is open on one side and of which the other sides are completely closed, which tray is closed off at the open side by by a foil which is sealed gastight to the tray along the circumference of the open side of the tray, in which foodstuffs and a preservative gas are present In the tray. As regards the packaging the invention is characterized in that the tray is divided into a main tray and an auxiliary tray which are connected to each other via a bridge in which in the bridge a duct between the main tray and the auxiliary tray is possibly present, and in which the foil is sealed to the bridge and the foodstuff is present in the main tray.

An embodiment of the packaging is characterized in that oxygen is present in the auxiliary tray and at least almost no oxygen is present in the main tray, in which at least a part of the seal seam between the main tray and the auxiliary tray is weaker than the seal seam around the outer circumference of the main tray and the auxiliary tray or is interrupted and is biassed against the bridge at the location of the interruption. The seal seam between the trays preferably is weak to such an extent that when pressing the foil of the oxygen-containing tray, the seal seam will break or the fail will come loose from the flange as a result of increased pressure after which the oxygen is pressed into the tray. As a result of this the products that cannot be kept for very long in oxygen containing atmospheres, but preferably do have to be sold in oxygen-containing atmospheres, for instance because of the better looks in this atmosphere, can be brought into an oxygen containing atmosphere in a very simple way without having to open or break the packaging.

A particular advantageous embodiment of the packaging according to the invention is characterized In that the packaging comprises several trays with various kinds of foodstuffs in them, and one foil with which all trays are closed off, which foil has a composition comprising an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent, in which oxidation of the organic compound can be initiated by radiation, and which foil is only partly irradiated at the location of a number of the trays as a result of which the oxygen has been removed from the trays. The foil and the manner of irradiation are identical here to the method according to the invention described above.

It is noted that the advantageous effect of a partly irradiated foil of an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent will also occur if the foodstuffs will be packaged in another way than by injecting apreservative gas via a needle in a packaging with main tray and an auxiliary tray, so that explicit the possibility will be kept open to claim this packaging of the invention independently from the characteristic that the preservative gas will be injected via a hollow needle and that the packaging comprises a main tray and auxiliary tray. Another further advantageous embodiment of the packaging according to the invention is characterized in that the packaging comprises severat trays with various kinds of foodstuffs in them, and one foil with which all trays are closed off, which foil is perforated at the location of one or several of the trays. It is noted that the advantageous effect of a partly perforated foil of an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent will also occur if the foodstuffs will be packaged in another way than by injecting apreservative gas via a needle in a packaging with main tray and an auxiliary tray, so that explicit the possibility will be kept open to claim this packaging of the invention independently from the characteristic that the preservative gas will be injected via a hollow needle and that the packaging comprises a main tray and auxiliary tray.

Yet a further embodiment of the packaging according to the invention is characterized in that the tray compromises a flange around the open side circumference on which the foil is sealed by means of a continuous main seal seam, and that the packaging compromises a pressure valve compromising an opening in the foil or in the flange at a location inside the main seal seam, which opening is closed and can be opened by gas pressure, by which the required gas pressure to open the pressure valve is lower than the required gas pressure to break the main seal seam.

A packaging provided with a pressure valve is known as such from the international patent application number WO 9932373 Al . The pressure valve constitutes a separate part that is placed in an opening in the foil and is connected to the foil. This known packaging is relative expensive ans complicated.

The packaging provided with a pressure valve according to the present invention is cheaper and less complicated than the known packaging. It is noted that the advantageous effect of a packaging with a pressure valve according to the invention will also occur if the foodstuffs will be packaged in another way than by injecting a preservative gas via a needle in a packaging with main tray and an auxiliary tray, so that explicit the possibility will be kept open to claim this packaging of the invention independently from the characteristic that the preservative gas will be injected via a hollow needle and that the packaging comprises a main tray and an auxiliary tray.

Embodiments of this packaging are characterized in that the foil is braced against the flange and in that the foil is sealed to the flange around the opening by means of a interrupted secondary seal seam.

Further embodiments of this packaging are characterized in that the foil is sealed to the flange around the opening by means of a interrupted secondary seal seam, by which a duct is formed in between the foil and the flange by the secondary seal seam, which duct connects the opening with the main tray and in that the secondary seal seam forms a labyrinth shaped duct.

Yet an embodiment of the packaging is characterized in that the foil is sealed to the flange around the opening by means of a continuous secondary seal seam, of which at least a part is weaker than the main seal seam. The invention further relates to a system for packing foodstuffs under an atmosphere according to a method according to the invention, compromising a packaging apparatus in which foodstuffs are placed in a tray which is open on one side, arranging a foil over the open side of the tray, removing the air from the tray and sealing the foil to the tray along at least the largest part of the circumference of the open side of the tray, and inserting a preservative gas into the tray.

Such a system is generally known in the art. Disadvantage of the known system is that one has to have knowledge about preservative gasses and foils which are suitable for packing of fooldstuffs. Especially when another kind of foodstuff will be packed, one first has to investigate which kind of preservative gasses and foils are suitable and one has to make an inspection. This needs a lot of time.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a system for packing foodstuffs, wherein data about the suitable preservative gasses and foils for various kinds of foodstuffs always is present. To this end the system according to the present invention is characterized in that the system furthermore compromises a database containing information about suitable preserving gasses and foils for packing different foodstuffs, and that the system compromises a computer for entering the kind of foodstuff that has to be packed, for communication with the database for the retrieval of the appropriate preserving gasses and foil for the particular foodstuff, and the representation of information on the subject of the appropriate preserving gasses and foil. By storing all necessary data into a central database it will be possible for every user of the system to get the desired data via a computer, a modem and a network.

It is noted that the advantageous effect of a system provided with a database with data about suitable preservative gasses and foils will also occur if the foodstuffs will be packaged in another way than by injecting apreservative gas via a needle, so that explicit the possibility will be kept open to claim the system of the invention independently from the characteristic that the preservative gas will be injected via a hollow needle.

An embodiment of the system of the invention is characterized in that the computer controls the packaging apparatus.

A further embodiment of the system is characterized in that the packaging apparatus compromises a counting device to calculate the number of cycles performed by the packaging apparatus.

Brief description of the drawings

Below the invention will be elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments of the packaging according to the invention shown in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the packaging according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the packaging according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows the various method steps for packing foodstuff in a packaging shown in figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the packaging according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the packaging according to figure 4 along line A- A; Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a system for packing foodstuffs;

Figure 7 shows a part of a first embodiment of the packaging according to the invention provided with a presure valve;

Figure 8 shows a part of a second embodiment of the packaging according to the invention provided with a presure valve; Figure 9 shows a part of a third embodiment of the packaging according to the invention provided with a presure valve; and

Figure 10 shows a cross-section of the third embodiment of the packaging. Detailed desciption of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the packaging according to the invention. The packaging 1 consists of a tray 3 with four trays 5 which are connected to each other via flanges 7. The trays 5 are closed off gastight by a foil 9 which is sealed to the flanges. 7. There are various products (which are not shown for the sake of clarity) in the trays 5 under different atmospheres. The various preservative gasses are injected through the foil into the trays via injection needles. The punctures 11 of the injection needles are closed off by a sticker 13. Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the packaging according to the invention. Here as well foodstuff is packed under different atmospheres by injecting gas into the trays, however not by directly inserting the injection needle into the tray with foodstuff. The packaging 15 consists of two trays 17 which are each divided into a main tray 19 and an auxiliary tray 21, which are attached to each other via a bridge 23. There is a foil 25 over the trays, which foil is sealed under vacuum conditions along the circumference of the tray 17 with a main seal 27. After that the injection needles are inserted through the foil 25 at the location of the auxiliary trays 21 and the preservative gasses are injected into the trays 17. The injected gas here flows between the bridge 21 and the foil 25 Into the main tray 19, in which the foodstuff is present. Subsequently the foil 25 is sealed to the bridge 23 with an auxiliary seal 29 and if so desired the auxiliary tray 21 can be removed.

In figure 3 the different method steps for packing food in the packaging shown in figure 2 are further shown. In figure 3 A a tray 31 is shown consisting of main trays 19 and auxiliary trays 21. In the main trays 19 foodstuff is already present which is not shown, however, for the sake of clarity. The tray 31 is situated in a vacuum space.

Subsequently a foil 26 is arranged over the tray 31, see figure 33. This foil 25 is subsequently sealed gastight around the circumference df atray 17 by sealing means 33, see figure 3C, in which between the main tray 19 and the auxiliary tray 21 the foil 25 is not sealed to the bridge 23. Subsequently, at the location of the auxiliary trays 21, injection needles 35 are pricked through the foil 25, see figure 3D. Via the iniection needles 35 different preservative gasses 37, 39 are inj ected into the auxiliary trays 21. The preservative gasses 37, 39 subsequently flaw between the bridges 23 and the foil 25 into the main trays 19. In order to prevent that the gas pressure in the trays tears the foil 25 loose from the tray 31 or damages it, the vacuum of the surroundings is removed by airing the space in which the tray 31 is situated. Instead of removing the vacuum a pressure plate could also be arranged on the foil which compensates the gas pressure in the trays. Finally the foil 25 between the main trays 19 and the auxiliary trays 21 is sealed to the bridge 23 by further sealing means 41, see figure 3E. After that the injection needles 35 are retracted and the auxiliary trays 19 of the main trays 21 are cut off along the lines 43, see figure 3F, so that the packaging shown in figure 2 is obtained.

The method described above can also be carried out under normal atmospheric conditions instead of under vacuum. In that case in the method step shown in figure 3C, the foil 25 is not sealed to the tray 31 at the location of the outer sealing means 33 but the foil remains open at these ends. During the subsequent injection of gas into the auxiliary trays 21 , the gas flows into the main trays 19 and drives the air present in the main trays out of the trays via the opening at the location of the foil 25 which is not yet sealed to the tray 31. After that the foil is sealed to the tray 31 on these locations and at the location of the bridges 23 in order to close off the space in the main trays 19 airtight.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the packaging according to the invention. Said packaging 45 consists of a dish 47 in which a number of main trays 49 and auxiliary trays 51 are present. Between the main trays 49 and the auxiliary trays 51 bridges 53 are present. Ducts 55 are present in these bridges, which ducts connect the spaces in the main trays and the auxiliary trays to each other. The main trays 49, the auxiliary trays 51 and the ducts 55 are closed off by a foil 57 at the open upper side, which foils is sealed to the flanges 59 of the dish 45 and to the bridges 53.

The foil 57 contains a oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent. In this way the oxidation of the organic compound can be initiated by irradiating the foil. The foil 57 is irradiated at the location of two of the main trays. These irradiated parts 61 of the foil 57 have removed the oxygen from the main trays present underneath it. At the location of another main tray the foil 57 has been provided with perforations 63, as a result of which the foodatuff in this tray can breathe. For the sake of clarity a cross-section along the line A-A of the dish 47 shown in figure 4 is shown in figure 5.

Figure 6 shows a system for packing of foodstuffs according to the present invention. The system 101 constists of a packing machine 103, a database 105 and a computer 107. The packing machine 103 is designed such that one or more compartments 109 of a packaging 111 can be filled with one or several different kinds of foodstufs and that in each compartment 109 a preservative gas suitable for the foodstuffs present in said compartment can be introduced.

The database 105 is provided with data of preservative gasses and foils for packagings. Particularly, the database 105 comprises information about which composition of preservative gases and which materials of foils will be suitable for the different kinds of foodstuffs. The database 105 will be kept up to date and will be connected to a network 113. The user of the system can consult said actual database 105 via a computer 107 and a network connection 115. When data of the foodstuff to be packed has been put in the database, the database 105 provides information about the suitable preservative gasses and the suitable foils, with this information the user can adjust the packing machine 103. To simplyfy the latter, the computer 107 is connected to the packing machine 103 via a coupling 117 and the computer 107 controls the packing machine 103. It is also possible that the computer is integrated in the packing machine 103. The packing machine 103 is provided with a counter 119 which counts the number of packing cycles which are executed by the packing machine.

Figure 7 shows a part of a first embodiment of the packaging provided with a pressure valve of the invention. The packaging 201 comprises a tray 203 which is open at one side and which tray is provided with a flange 205 along said open side. The tray 203 is covered by a foil 207 which is sealed to the flange 205 along a continuous main seal seam 209. An opening 211 is present in the flange 205. Around the opening the foil 207 is sealed to the flange along a continuous auxiliary seal seam 213 of which a part 215 is weaker than the main seal seam 209.

If the pressure of the gas inside the tray 203 exceeds a certain value, for instance during cooking of water in the tray 203, the weaked portion 215 of the auxiliary seal seam 213 will break and the gas can escape via the opening 211.

Figure 8 shows a part of a second embodiment of the packaging provided with a pressure valve of the invention. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that there is no continuous auxiliary seal seam with a weakened part, but the auxiliary seal seam 217 is broken and constitutes a canal 219 between the flange 205 and the foil 207, which canal connects the space in the tray 203 with the outside atmosphere via the opening 211. The length of the canal 219 constituted by the auxiliary seal 217 is a measure for the resistance. If the pressure of the gas inside the tray 203 increases the resistance of the canal 219 will be overwon at a certain pressure and the gas can escape to the outside. Instead of the shown spiral canal 219 also another canal can be constituted by the auxiliary seal seam, for instance in the shape of a labyrinth.

Figure 9 shows a part of a third embodiment of the packaging provided with a pressure valve of the invention. In contradistinction to the first embodiment the opening 221 is now present in the foil 207 instead of in the flange 205. For instance, the opening can be made during injection of preservative gases in the tray 203 with the help of an injection needle. A deepening 223 is present in the flange 205 to prevent the injection needle from piercing through the flange 205. This can be seen clearly in figure 10 in which a cross- section of the packaging is shown along line X-X of figure 9.

A bulge 225 is present in the flange 205 around the deepening 223. The foil 207 is stretched against the bulge 225 by a broken auxiliary seal seam 227. This construction constitutes a pressure valve and is present to avoid a too high overpressure or too low undeφressure in the tray. If the pressure of the gas in the tray exceeds a certain value, the gas will lift the foil 217 via a break 229 and will escape via the opening 221. The pressure of the gas which will be necessary for lifting the foil 207 is smaller as the pressure of the gas at which the main seal seam 209 will break.

Although in the preceding the invention has been elucidated on the basis of drawings, it has to be stated that the invention is not at all limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also includes all embodiments which differ from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the framework defined by the claims. Thus it is also possible to manufacture a single packaging with the method according to the invention, which packaging has only one tray in which one preservative gas is present.

Claims

1. Method for packing foodstuffs under an atmosphere, comprising placing the foodstuff in a tray which is open on one side, arranging a foil over the open side of the tray, removing the air from the tray and sealing the foil to the tray along at least the largest part of the circumference of the open side of the tray, and inserting a preservative gas into the tray, characterized in that the preservative gas is injected into the tray via a hollow needle which is pricked through the foil, after the foil has been sealed along at least a part of the circumference to the tray, after which the tray is closed off gastrght.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray is divided into a main tray and an auxiliary tray which are connected to each other via a bridge, in which in the bridge a duct between the main tray and the auxiliary tray is possibly present and the needle is pricked through the foil at the location of the auxiliary tray, and in which the gastight closing takes place by sealing the foil to the bridge between the main tray and the auxiliary tray.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that after sealing the foil to the bridge, the auxiliary tray is removed from the main tray.

4. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the gastight closing of the tray takes place by applying a sticker on the foil at the location where the needle has been pricked through the foil.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the various kinds of foodstuffs are packed in various trays of one packaging, in which the various trays are closed off by one foil, which foil comprises a composition comprising an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent, in which oxidation of the organic compound can be initiated by radiation, and which foil is only partly irradiated at the location of one or several of the trays.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the various kinds of foodstuffs are packed in various trays of one packaging, in which the various trays are closed off by one foil, which foil is perforated at the location of one or several of the trays.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method includes the input into a computer of the kind of foodstuff that has to be packed, the communication via this computer with a database containing data about suitable preservative gasses and foils for packing different foodstuffs, the retrieval of the appropriate preservative gasses and foil for the particular foodstuff, and the output of data by this computer on the subject of the appropriate preservative gasses and foil.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method furthermore compromises the control of the packaging device by means of a computer.

9. Method according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that the method furthermore compromises the registration of the number of packing cycles performed by the packaging device.

10. Device for packing foodstuffs according to a method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a vacuum space and sealing means for sealing a foil to the circumference of a tray with one open side, characterized in that the device furthermore comprises injection means for pricking trough a foil and injecting a preservative gas in a tray.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the device comprises further sealing means for sealing a fail to a bridge between an auxiliary tray and a main tray of a tray.

12. Device according to claim 1 1 , characterized in that the device furthermore comprises separation means for separating an auxiliary tray from a main tray.

13. Packaging for packing foodstuffs according to a method according to one of the preceding claims 1 up to and including 9, comprising a tray which is open on one side and of which the other sides are completely closed, which tray is closed off at the open side by a foil which is sealed gastight to the tray along the circumference of the open side of the tray, in which in the tray foodstuff and a preservative gas are present, characterized in that the tray is divided into a main tray and an auxiliary tray which are connected to each other via a bridge, in which in the bridge a duct between the main tray and the auxiriary tray is possibly present, and in which the foil is sealed to the bridge and the foodstuff is present in the main tray.

14. Packaging according to claim 13, characterized in that oxygen is present in the auxiliary tray and at least almost no oxygen is present in the main tray, in which at least a part of the seal seam between the main tray and the auxiliary tray is weaker than the seal seam around the outer circumference of the main tray and the auxiliary tray or is interrupted and is biassed against the bridge at the location of the interruption.

15. Packaging according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the packaging comprises several trays with various kinds of foodstuffs in them, and one foil with which all trays are closed off, which foil has a composition comprising an oxidizable organic compound and a metallic transition catalytic agent, in which oxidation of the organic compound can be initiated by radiation, and which foil is only partly irradiated at the location of one or more of the trays as a result of which the oxygen has been removed from the trays.

16. Packaging according to claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the packaging comprises several trays with various kinds of foodstuffs in them, and one foil with which all trays are closed off, which foil is perforated at the location of one or several of the trays.

17. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims 13 up to and including 16, characterized in that the tray compromises a flange around the open side circumference on which the foil is sealed by means of a continuous main seal seam, and that the packaging compromises a pressure valve compromising an opening in the foil or in the flange at a location inside the main seal seam, which opening is closed and can be opened by gas pressure, by which the required gas pressure to open the pressure valve is lower than the required gas pressure to break the main seal seam.

18. Packaging according to claim 17, characterized in that the foil is braced against the flange.

19. Packaging according to claim 18, characterized in that the foil is sealed to the flange around the opening by means of a interrupted secondary seal seam.

20. Packaging according to claim 17, characterized in that the foil is sealed to the flange around the opening by means of a interrupted secondary seal seam, by which a duct is formed in between the foil and the flange by the secondary seal seam, which duct connects the opening with the main tray.

21. Packaging according to claim 20, characterized in that the secondary seal seam forms a labyrinth shaped duct.

22. Packaging according to claim 17, characterized in that the foil is sealed to the flange around the opening by means of a continuous secondary seal seam, of which at least a part is weaker than the main seal seam.

23. System for packing foodstuffs under an atmosphere according to a method according to one of the preceding claims 1 up to and including 9, compromising a packaging apparatus in which foodstuffs are placed in a tray which is open on one side, arranging a foil over the open side of the tray, removing the air from the tray and sealing the foil to the tray along at least the largest part of the circumference of the open side of the tray, and inserting a preservative gas into the tray, characterized in that the system furthermore compromises a database containing information about suitable preserving gasses and foils for packing different foodstuffs, and that the system compromises a computer for entering the kind of foodstuff that has to be packed, for communication with the database for the retrieval of the appropriate preserving gasses and foil for the particular foodstuff, and the representation of information on the subj ect of the appropriate preserving gasses and foil.

24. System according to claim 23, characterized in that the computer controls the packaging apparatus.

25. System according to claim 23 and 24, characterized in that the packaging apparatus compromises a counting device to calculate the number of cycles performed by the packaging apparatus.