WO2022112915A1

WO2022112915A1 - A sealed tray package

Info

Publication number: WO2022112915A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/060799
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mari HILTUNEN; Tim LINDFORS; Kati Tukiainen; Tanja SALOMIES
Original assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
Priority date: 2020-11-26
Filing date: 2021-11-22
Publication date: 2022-06-02
Also published as: SE2051377A1; 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 invention

The invention relates to a sealed tray package. Technical Background

Nowadays food products are often packaged in trays e.g. disposable trays. Such trays often have a cover to protect the food product inside the tray against e.g. dirt. Examples of such trays having cover are some airline meals or ready meals. However, the trays having cover often lose their shape when being exposed to e.g. a chilled condition such that sidewalls of the tray collapse inwardly. Moreover, the trays having cover may even more lose their shape if the cover of the tray does not allow air entering inside the tray. A shape 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 the abovementioned problems.

Summary of invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a sealed tray package addressing at least some of the abovementioned problems. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a sealed tray package that may prevent or at least mitigate such shape losing problems.

This object has been achieved by a sealed tray package for a food product, the sealed tray package comprising a tray. The tray comprises a compartment having a bottom wall and one or more sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the compartment being arranged to receive the food product, and comprising a rim extending outwardly from an upper portion of the one or more sidewalls of the compartment and surrounding the compartment 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 the rim of the tray thereby forming a sealed tray, and one or more bands being wrapped tightly on an outside of the sealed tray and around at least a portion of the sealed tray along a wrapping direction, such that respective band is attached to the cover and/or rim at an upper side of the sealed tray and extends tightly towards the bottom wall of the compartment and is attached to a lower side of the sealed tray.

Thereby the one of more bands prevent, or at least mitigate, the sealed tray package losing its shape when being exposed to chilled conditions. In other words, the one of more bands prevent, or at least mitigate, the side walls of the compartment collapsing inwardly. In addition, the inventive concept may be applied to trays having various shapes and dimensions to address the losing shape problem. Furthermore, the inventive concept may be applied to sealed tray packages wherein the cover “airtightly” seals the tray to address the losing shape problem. With “airtightly” it is intended to refer to a situation where the cover does not allow or allows little air entering into the tray such that in chilled conditions a pressure of the air inside the sealed tray may risk becoming less than the ambient air pressure. In overall, the inventive concept provides a simple, easy-to-perform, user-friendly, and cost-effective manner. In addition, the one of more bands may be used to provide the user with some information e.g. about the food product. The one of 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 or more bands are under tension after they have been wrapped around the tray or at least so tightly stretched that they will be set under tension when the side walls of the sealed tray collapses inwardly.

The one or more bands may be adhesively attached or heat sealed to the cover. The one or more bands may be adhesively attached or heat sealed to the bottom wall of the compartment. The one or more bands may e.g. be attached 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 a sealing operation such as a heat sealing operation, such as by ultrasonic sealing. Thereby, the one or more bands may be attached to the cover and to the bottom in a simple, convenient and cost-effective manner. This may also facilitate detaching e.g. tearing apart the one or more band by the user.

The one or more bands may each have a longitudinal extension and a width defining a plane. Each band may be flexible in out-of-plane directions. Each band may be rigid or at least resilient in plane such that the band may be capable of providing a tension force between the upper side and the lower side as seen along the wrapping direction. By the one or more bands being rigid or at least resilient in plane, the one or more bands may retain its shape and/or size or at least only be marginally deformed when e.g. becoming stretched. The tension force between the upper side and the lower side, as seen along the wrapping direction, may prevent, or at least mitigate, the side walls of the compartment from collapsing inwardly. In other words, the tension force between the upper side and the lower side, as seen along the wrapping direction, may apply an outward force to the side walls of the compartment and may hence prevent, or at least mitigate, the side walls of the compartment from collapsing inwardly.

The one or more bands may be attached completely around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Thereby, the one or more bands may be wrapped completely around the middle portion of the sealed tray such that two opposite ends of each of the one or more bands, extending tightly towards the bottom of the compartment, may be connected to each other, such as by overlapping 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 a longitudinal direction of the tray. A “middle” portion is intended to refer to that a centre of the band, as seen along the longitudinal direction, is located within a central one of three portions dividing the tray in three equal portions along the longitudinal direction. By the “longitudinal direction” of the tray is hereby meant a direction along a length of the bottom wall of the compartment. Accordingly, a direction along a width of the bottom wall of the compartment is referred to as a transversal direction. It may be noted that in the preferred embodiment, a projection of the wrapping direction onto the bottom wall will extend in parallel with this transversal direction. The one or more bands may be attached partially, preferably only partially, around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Thereby, the one or more bands may be wrapped partially around the middle portion of the sealed tray such that two opposite ends of each of the one or more bands, extending tightly towards the bottom of the compartment, do not connect to each other at the lower side of the sealed tray. In other words, there may be a gap between the opposite ends of each respective band at the lower side of the sealed 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 upper side of the sealed tray, may extend tightly towards the bottom of the compartment 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 each band at the upper side of the sealed tray and there may be a gap between respective 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 middle portion of the sealed tray, the sealed tray package may be provided in a more cost-effective manner, as less band material may be required. Moreover, the design does not interfere with or cover the upper surface of the cover apart from over short distances, along the wrapping direction, on each side of the tray, which allows for greater design freedom when designing the sealed tray package.

The tray may be formed of a single piece of material. Thereby the material of the sidewalls and the bottom wall of the compartment may be the same. Thereby, the tray may be provided in a simple, convenient, fast and cost-effective manner by cutting a single piece of material and shaping, such as 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, a composite band having a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer, a composite band having a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer and an 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, the cover 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 a desired cover shape. In case the cover is made of a paper-based material, it is typically provided with a polymer-based layer, such as being coated on an inside 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 package in a direction transverse to the wrapping direction. Thereby the one or more bands may cover around 5% to 50% of the sealed tray in the longitudinal direction of the tray. This allows on one hand for a strong tension force aiding in keeping the intended shape of the tray and allows on the other hand the food product to still remain visible through a transparent cover. The width of the one or more bands should preferably be at least 5%, and more preferably be at least 10%, of the longitudinal length of the rims extending along the longitudinally extending side walls. That is, the one or more bands should preferably make use of at least 5%, and more preferably of at least 10%, of the available extension of the rims along the longitudinally extending side walls. The one or more bands should preferably cover at the most 50%, and more preferably at the most 30%, of the longitudinal extension of the compartment.

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

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

According to another aspect of the invention a method for providing a sealed tray package for a food product is provided. The method comprises providing a tray comprising a compartment having a bottom wall and one or more sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the compartment being arranged to receive the food product, and a rim extending outwardly from an upper portion of the one or more sidewalls of the compartment and surrounding the compartment at an upper open end of the tray. The method further comprises providing a cover covering the upper open end and sealing the cover to the rim of the tray thereby forming a sealed tray. The method further comprises providing one or more bands and tightly wrapping the one or more bands on an outside of the sealed tray and around at least a portion of the sealed tray along a wrapping direction, such that respective band becomes attached to the cover and/or rim at an upper side of the sealed tray and extends tightly towards the bottom wall of the compartment and becomes attached 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 according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which shows a presently preferred 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 package shown in Figure 1 along the line AA.

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

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

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a sealed tray package 100 for a food product. In figure 1 , direction X illustrate a longitudinal direction of the sealed tray package 100. In figure 1 , direction Y illustrates a transversal direction of the sealed tray package 100. In figure 1 , direction Z illustrates a direction 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, the tray 110 may be a single piece of a blank formed into a tray 110. The tray 110 need not be formed of a single piece of material. For instance, the tray 110 may be formed of a plurality of material pieces attached to each other. The material of the tray 110 may be paper-based. The material of the tray 110 may 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 being provided with a polymer-based coating one the inside surface and/or on the inside surface. In this context it may be noted that the tray 110 is typically said to be of a single piece of material or a single piece blank if it is formed of single piece of a paper-based material being provided with a polymer-based coating. The tray may have a length along the X direction, also referred to as the longitudinal direction, in the range of 10 to 50 cm. The tray may have a width along the Y direction, also referred to as the transverse direction, in the range of 10 to 30 cm. The tray may have a height along the Z direction in the range of 2 to 8 cm.

Figure 1 shows that the tray 110 comprises a compartment 112. The compartment 112 of the tray 110 is arranged to receive the food product. The tray 110 may comprise a set of plurality of compartments 112 such as three or four compartments 112. This may alternatively be expressed as that the compartment 112 may comprise sub-compartments. In the case that the tray 110 comprises a plurality of the compartments 112 or sub-compartments, such different compartments 112 or sub-compartments may be configured to receive different food items. The compartment 112 of the tray 110 has a bottom wall 115, which is indicated by dashed lines in figure 1 and which is shown in figure 2, and one or more side walls 116a-d extending upwardly from 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 the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 longitudinally extends along the X direction. Figure 1 further shows that the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 transversally extends along the Y direction. A length of the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 along the X direction may be in the range of 1 to 5 cm shorter than the length of the tray 110 along the X direction. A width of the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 along the Y direction may be in the range of 1 to 5 cm shorter than the length of the tray 110 along the Y direction. The bottom wall 115 is typically shorter to accommodate the provision of the rim 114 and/or to accommodate the fact that the side walls 116a-d often are inclined upwardly and outwardly. A material thickness of the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 along the Z direction may be in the range of 0,5 to 2 mm. The bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 may have other shapes than rectangular shape. For instance, the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 may have an oval shape. It may be noted that trays being said to have a rectangular shape, typically have a generally rectangular shape with straight or at least almost straight sides being connected by rounded corners. This is especially true for trays formed of paper-based materials, and especially if such trays formed of paper-based materials are press formed.

Still in connection with figure 1, the compartment 112 of the tray 110 has one or more sidewalls 116a-d. Figure 1 shows that the compartment 112 of the tray 110 has four sidewalls 116a-d. The one or more sidewalls 116a-d of the compartment 112 extend upwardly from the bottom wall 115. Figure 1 shows that four sidewalls 116a-d of the compartment 112 extend upwardly from two opposite longitudinal and two opposite transversal edges of the rectangular bottom wall 115. Figure 1 shows that the one or more sidewalls 116a-d of the compartment 112 extend along the Z direction. A height of the one or more sidewalls 116a-d along the Z direction may be in the range of 2 to 8 cm. A material thickness of the one or more sidewalls 116a-d may be in the range of 0,5 to 2 mm. The side walls may extend vertically upwardly. The side walls may extend inclined upwardly and outwardly an angle (a) being between 5° and 30° relative to the Z direction. In the case that the tray 110 comprises a set of plurality of compartments 112 or that the tray 110 comprises sub-compartments, there may be walls in between such plurality of compartments 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 of the one or more sidewalls 116a-d of the compartment 112. Figure 1 shows that the rim 114 of the tray 110 has a width extending along the Y direction from the longitudinally extending side walls 116a and 116c and extends along the X direction from the transversely extending side walls 116b and 116d. The rim 114 of the tray 110 surrounds the compartment 112 at an upper open end 116 of the tray 110. The rim 114 of the tray may have a width in the range of 0,5 to 3 cm. The rim 114 of the tray may have a material thickness in the range of 0,5 to 2 mm along the Z direction. In the case that the tray 110 comprises a plurality of the compartments 112 or sub-compartments, the rim 114 surrounds the set of the plurality of compartments 112 or sub compartments such that the rim 114 forms one perimeter surrounding the set of plurality of compartments 112 or sub-compartments. Any walls between the sub-compartments may extend all the way up to the same height as the rim and a cover 120, which will be disclosed in detail below, may be sealed not only to the rim 114 but may also, but need not, be sealed to such walls between the sub-compartments. Flowever, in this context, the rim 114 refers to the rim 114 forming an outer perimeter and especially it refers to the portions 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 a transversal direction away from the side walls 116a and 116c.

Still in connection with figure 1 , the sealed tray package 100 comprises a 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 a sealed tray 110. The cover 120 may be formed of any of or any combination of a polymer-based material, such as plastic, or a paper-based material. The cover 120 may be a single piece of material. The cover 120 may comprise a single layer of material. The cover 120 may comprise a plurality of layers of materials. For instance, the cover 120 may comprise a layer of plastic deposited on a layer of paper. The cover 120 may be transparent. The cover 120 may be non-transparent. The cover 120 may have a length along the X direction and along the Y direction basically corresponding to the size of the tray 110. A slight oversize, overall or locally, of the cover 120 may be used to provide a tear flap making it easier for the user to remove the cover 120 from the tray 110. A slight undersize of the cover 120 may be used to secure that there is not unintentionally formed an undesired tear flap in any unintended position. The cover 120 may be provided in the form of a continuous band which is sealed to the tray 110 and with excessive cover material being cut. In such a case the cover is typically cut flush with the outer perimeter of the rim 114 in an operation where the rim 114 and cover 120 is clamped and sealed to each other and the excessive parts of the cover is cut away. The cover 120 may be provided in the form of a pre-cut cover 120 being positioned on the tray 110 and sealed to the rim 114. The cover 120 may have a thickness along the Z direction in the range of 0,01 to 3mm, with the lower part of the range typically being relevant for polymer-based covers 120 and the upper part of the range typically being relevant for paper-based covers 120, optionally also provided with polymer-based layers on an inside and/or outside.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealed tray package 100 shown in Figure 1 along the line AA. Figure 2 shows that the cover 120 has been sealed to the rim 114 of the tray 100. The cover 120 may be sealed to the rim 114 by a glue drop, such as hot-melt, by a double-sided adhesive tape, by the band having an adhesive side, or a sealing operation such as a heat sealing operation, such as by ultrasonic sealing. In the case that the tray 110 comprises a set of plurality of compartments 112 or that the tray 110 comprises 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 sealed tray package 100 further comprises one or more bands 130. The one or more bands 130 are wrapped tightly on an outside of the sealed tray 110. Figure 1 shows that the sealed tray package 100 comprises one band 130. The band 130 may have a rectangular shape. The band 130 may have any other shapes such as an oval shape. The one or more bands 130 may each have a longitudinal extension and a width defining a plane. Each of the one or more bands 130 may be flexible in out-of-plane directions. Each of the one or more bands 130 may be rigid or at least resilient in plane. Each of the one or more bands 130 may be capable of providing a tension force between an upper side 142 and the lower side 144 as seen along the wrapping direction WD. The one or more 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-based band, a polymer-based band having an adhesive side, a composite band having a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer, a composite band having 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 are wrapped tightly around at least a portion of the sealed tray 110 along a wrapping direction WD. The longitudinal extension of the band 130 extends along the wrapping direction WD. A length of the one or more bands 130, along the longitudinal extension, may be in the range of 5 to 50 cm. It may be noted that the length of the one or more bands 130 is dependent upon the size of the tray 110 and on to what extent the one or bands 130 are intended to extend fully around the tray 110 and cover 120 or only partly extend around the tray 110 and cover 120. However, a band 130 should at least have a length such that it can be attached to the cover 120 or rim 114 on an upper surface of the cover 120 or rim 114 and extend along the associated side wall 116a-d and be attached to an under side of the bottom wall 115. Figure 1 shows 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% of a length of the sealed tray package 100 in a direction transverse to the wrapping direction (WD) and along the longitudinal direction. The width of the one 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 tray 110, described in relation to figure 1. Figure 3 shows that a band 130 is attached to the cover 120 and/or the rim 114 of the sealed tray 110 at an upper side 142 of the sealed tray 110. The band 130 extends tightly towards the 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 3 shows that the band 130 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. It may be noted that it is preferred that the one or more bands 130 being attached to the cover 120 and/or rim 114 preferably includes that the band 130 is attached to the cover 120 and/or rim 114 at a portion of the cover 120 and/or rim 114 being located close to the rim 114 and more preferably being located such that a projection of said portion down onto a geometrical plane coinciding with the bottom wall 115 is positioned outside the perimeter of the bottom wall 115. Figure 3 shows that the band 130 has been attached completely around a middle portion of the sealed tray 110. In other words, figure 3 shows that the band 130 has been attached completely around a portion arranged in the middle of the length of the sealed tray 110.

In connection with figure 4, the one or more bands 130 may be attached only partially around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of a sealed tray package 100. The sealed tray package 100 shown in figure 4 comprises a sealed tray 110. The sealed tray 110 may be provided in the same manner as the sealed tray 110, described in relation to figure 1. Figure 4 shows that the band 130 has been attached only partially around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Figure 4 shows that the band 130 is attached to the cover 120 of the sealed tray 110 at an upper side 142 of the sealed tray 110. The band 130 extends tightly towards the 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 4 shows that the band 130 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. Figure 4 further shows that there is a gap G1 in between opposite ends of the band 130 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. A size of the gap G1 along the Y direction may be in the range of 25% to 75% of the width of the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112.

In connection with figure 5, the one or more bands 130 may be attached only partially around a middle portion of the sealed tray. Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of a sealed tray package 100. The sealed tray package 100 shown in figure 5 comprises a sealed tray 110. The sealed tray 110, shown in figure 5, may be provided in the same manner as the sealed tray 110, described in relation to figure 1. Figure 5 shows that the band 130 has 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 the two sub-parts of the band 130 is attached to the cover 120 of the sealed tray 110 at an upper side 142 of the sealed tray 110, as shown in figure 5. Each one of the two sub-parts of the band 130 extends tightly towards the bottom 115 of the compartment 110 along the wrapping direction WD. Each one of the two sub-parts of the band 130 is attached to a lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. Figure 5 shows that each one of the two sub-parts of the band 130 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. Figure 5 further shows that there is a gap G1 in between opposite ends of the band 130 at the lower side 144 of the sealed tray 110. A size of the gap G1 along the Y direction may be in the range of 25% to 75% of the width of the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 112. Figure 5 further shows that there is a gap G2 in between opposite ends of the band 130 at the upper side 142 of the sealed tray 110. A size of the gap G2 along the Y direction may be in the range of 25% to 75% of the width of the tray 110.

Fig. 6 shows a block scheme of a method 200 for providing a sealed tray package 100 for a food product. The method 200 comprises 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 comprising 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 method further comprises providing 220 a cover 120 covering the upper open end 116 and sealing the cover 120 to the rim 114 of the tray 110 thereby forming a sealed tray 110. The method further comprises providing 230 one or more bands 130 and tightly wrapping 240 the one or more bands 130 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 becomes attached to the cover 120 and/or rim 114 at an upper side 142 of the sealed tray 110 and extends tightly towards the bottom wall 115 of the compartment 110 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 in accordance with the disclosure in the detailed disclosure of preferred embodiments and the appended drawings, it should be noted that a specific preferred embodiment of a specific component does not necessarily have to be combined with a specific embodiment of another component. Thus, advantages associated with a specific embodiment, including one or more features, of a specific component may be accomplished even though the other components are designed in accordance with the more general disclosure under the summary of the invention rather than being defined in accordance with the specific embodiment disclosed in the detailed description. It is contemplated that there are numerous modifications of the embodiments described herein, which are still within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

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 (116a-d) of the compartment (112) and surrounding the compartment (112) at an upper open end (116) of the tray (110), 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) and/or rim (114) at an upper side (142) of the sealed tray (110) and extends tightly towards the bottom wall (115) 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 or more 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 one or more bands (130) being adhesively attached or heat sealed to the bottom wall (115) of the compartment (110).

4. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the 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-plane directions, and wherein the band (130) is rigid or at least resilient in plane such that the band (130) is capable of providing a tension force between the upper side (142) and the lower side (144) as seen along the wrapping direction (WD).

5. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more bands (130) are attached completely around a middle portion of 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 middle portion 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, wherein the material of the tray (110) is paper-based.

9. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the 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-based band, a polymer-based band having an adhesive side, a composite band having a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer, a composite band having a paper-based layer and a polymer-based layer and an adhesive side.

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

11. The sealed tray package (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the 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, wherein the side walls (116a-d) are inclined upwardly and outwardly an angle (a) 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 food product, 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 (110), providing (220) a cover (120) covering the upper open end (116) and sealing the cover (120) to the rim (114) of the tray (110) thereby forming a sealed tray (110), and providing (230) one or more bands (130) and tightly wrapping (240) the one or more bands (130) 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) becomes attached to the cover (120) and/or rim (114) at an upper side (142) of the sealed tray (110) and extends tightly towards the bottom wall (115) of the compartment (110) and becomes attached to a lower side (144) of the sealed tray (110).