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
  • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D25/14—Linings or internal coatings
  • B65D25/16—Loose, or loosely-attached, linings
• • 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
  • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
  • B65D77/22—Details
  • B65D77/225—Pressure relief-valves incorporated in a container wall, e.g. valves comprising at least one elastic element
• • 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
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
  • B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
  • B65D81/2007—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum
• • 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
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package
  • B65D81/3446—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
  • B65D81/3453—Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• • 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
  • B65D2205/00—Venting means
  • B65D2205/02—Venting holes
  • B65D2205/025—Venting holes having a removable label, sticker or adhesive foil covering the hole

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a package designed to contain food product, preferably food product intended to be heated in a microwave oven, said package comprising a tray and a plastic film arranged to cover the top face of the tray during use.
• the invention likewise relates to a method of packaging food product in a package in accordance with the invention.
• the food product When ready-cooked dishes are produced in accordance with the method described in WO 00/0365, the food product is placed in a tray, whereupon a plastic film having a valve formed therein is arranged on top of the food product and the tray.
• the package with the food product contained therein are then inserted into a microwave tunnel for cooking of the food product to the ready-to-eat state, and during this cooking process vapor is produced.
• Napor exits through the valve, which preferably is a oneway valve, when the pressure inside the package exceeds the atmospheric pressure.
• the valve closes and the package is introduced into a cooling tunnel, in which vacuum is created inside the package automatically as a consequence of the condensation that takes place therein.
• the object of the present invention thus is to provide a package that solves the above referred-to problems .
• Another object of the invention is to provide a method of packaging foodstuff in a package in accordance with the invention.
• the inventive package also comprises a second plastic film ar- ranged between the tray and said first plastic film, said second plastic film intended when in use to adapt its shape to that of the food product upon evacuation of the space between said first and said second plastic films in which the food product is contained.
• the advantage of this solution is that the second plastic film deforms as a vacuum is being created in said space without such evacuation affecting the external appearance of the package. As a result, the package retains its appearance and consequently it may be stacked.
• a package of this kind is suitable for use together with ready-cooked as well as fresh food, whether intended for deep-freezing or refrigeration.
• a further advantage is the improved appearance of the package, also when a transparent plastic material is used, and the additional paper package conventionally used may be dispensed with.
• the provision of an additional plastic layer thus makes it possible to eliminate the subsequent paper package, which thus saves money as well as time.
• a valve preferably is provided on said first plastic film.
• the valve is arranged to open when a predetermined excess pressure generates inside the package, i.e. in the space between the two plastic films. The heat is distributed inside the package as the latter is being heated as a result of the vapor created during this process spreading inside the package.
• pressure builds up from the vapor inside the package and finally the valve opens.
• the valve opens it preferably, emits a sound signal as vapor flows out from the valve, thus indicating that the heating up of the food product is complete.
• the valve consists of an adhesive layer, which may be applied on the uppermost plastic film.
• the adhesive layer is placed on top of a slit formed in the plastic film.
• the application of the adhesive layer could take place e.g. in conjunction with the application of the plastic film on the tray on top of the food product.
• a considerable advantage of a valve of this kind in addition to the low costs, is that it does not add to the size of the package, i.e. it does not take up any space.
• one or several openings preferably are provided leading into the space between the plastic film positioned closest to the tray and the tray itself. The plastic film closest to the tray moves somewhat away from the tray during the evacuation process, and thus in the absence of an opening ' vacuum is created, which may cause deformation of the tray.
• the top plastic film preferably is of a stiffer kind than the intermediate plastic film. During the evacuation process it is essentially the intermediate plastic film that changes its shape while the uppermost one continues to be stretched.
• the even plastic film offers the advantage of making the package more manageable because it may be stacked. Much time could be gained in packaging ready-cooked dishes if the food may be cooked in a microwave oven immediately after the application on top of the tray-supported food product of the top plastic film in which a valve is formed. When the food product is heated, it emits vapor and when a sufficient amount of vapor has been created the valve opens. Once the cooking is completed, the valve closes and the package is transferred to equipment for refrigeration/cooling, in which equipment evacuation takes place automatically in response to the refrigeration.
• Fig 1 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the side of a package in accordance with the invention, designed to hold food products.
• Figs 2a-2d show the various steps of the packaging process in accordance with the invention up to the point when the top plastic film is applied to the package.
• the package shown in Fig 1 comprises a tray 1 and a bottom plastic film 2 and an top plastic film 4.
• Food 3 is located between the plastic films 2, 4.
• the tray 1 is formed with openings 5 serving to prevent the formation of a below-atmospheric pressure or excess pressure in the space between the bottom plastic film 2 and the tray 1.
• a valve 6 is formed in the top plastic film 4.
• the valve 6 is in the form of a tape, which is positioned on top of a slit formed in the top plastic film 4.
• the package of Fig 1 is shown in the stage when the food product 3 is pack- aged and the space between the two plastic films 2, 4 is evacuated.
• Figs 2a-2d show the composition of the package.
• Fig 2a shows a tray 1 with openings 5 formed therein.
• Fig 2b shows the manner in which a plastic film 2 is arranged inside the tray.
• the plastic film 2 is preferably welded to the edges of the tray 1.
• Fig 2c illustrates the situation when food product 3 has been positioned on top of the plastic film 2 and Fig 2d the situation when a second plastic film has been applied to the package in a posi- tion wherein it covers the food product and jointly with the bottom plastic film 2 it forms a closed space, in which the food product 3 lies protected.
• the top plastic film 4 preferably is welded to the bottom film 2 and to the edges of the tray 1.
• the closed space is then evacuated, whereby the bottom plastic film 2 adapts itself to the shape of the food product 3 inside the closed space.
• the top plastic film 2 preferably is arranged on top of the tray 1 in a manner ensuring that the plastic film 4 is in a stretched condition such that it does not alter its shape as a result of the evacuation process and does not adapt its shape to that of the food product 3.
• the top plastic film 4 is of a somewhat stiffer kind than the bottom one to further counteract tendencies of deformation.
• the valve could be an indication of fracture made in the plastic film, the dimensions of which fracture is such as to ensure that it bursts when exposed to a predetermined load.
• a valve of this kind thus is a single-use valve.
• the opening or openings between the tray 1 and the bottom plastic film 2 in other ways than the one shown in the drawing figures.
• the bottom plastic film 2 need not be welded to the tray 1 along the entire perimeter edges thereof, in which case the non-welded sections form the openings through which air may exit.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
• Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20287234

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (2)

• 2002
  • 2002-03-13 SE SE0200740A patent/SE519320C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-02-25 AT AT03705627T patent/ATE312774T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-02-25 AU AU2003206576A patent/AU2003206576A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-02-25 DE DE60302772T patent/DE60302772T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-02-25 WO PCT/SE2003/000300 patent/WO2003076302A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-02-25 ES ES03705627T patent/ES2253660T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-02-25 EP EP03705627A patent/EP1483174B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (2)

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