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
  • 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
  • B65D81/2069—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 in a special atmosphere
  • B65D81/2076—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 in a special atmosphere in an at least partially rigid container
• • 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
  • B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
  • B65D79/005—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting
• • 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
  • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/22—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents
  • B65D1/26—Thin-walled containers, e.g. formed by deep-drawing operations
  • B65D1/30—Groups of containers joined together end-to-end or side-by-side
• • 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
  • B65D77/10—Container closures formed after filling
  • B65D77/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
  • B65D77/2024—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers the cover being welded or adhered to the container
• • 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
  • B65D2577/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks, bags
  • B65D2577/10—Container closures formed after filling
  • B65D2577/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers
  • B65D2577/2025—Multi-layered container, e.g. laminated, coated

Definitions

• At least one aspect of this subject relates to the packaging of cooked food product (s) intended to be stored for a period of time greater than six months, and preferably more than twelve months, and even more preferably between eighteen and thirty-six months, at a temperature below 55 ° C, and typically at room temperature (i.e., usually between 10 ° C and 30 Approx. ° C and preferably between 15 ° C and 25 ° C).
• a problem posed concerns r - the production of such packaging, with the optimum objective a shelf life comparable to a can, typically in a metal box or glass jar, under the conditions indicated above - the production packaging which would therefore be suitable for preferably long-term storage, which could allow the consumer to consume the product thus purchased in portions and / or possibly store separately what he wishes to consume immediately and what he wishes keep longer, and which ensures optimized manufacturing conditions (and in particular a cost).
• the gas permeability of the packaging, the lid being sealed in the corresponding container be between 0.01ml and 0.001 ml of O 2 (typically less than 0.008 ml of oxygen) per container per twenty-four hours at substantially 23 ° C., and even favorably that this gas permeability of each container is equal to approximately 0.004 ml of oxygen per container by twenty-four hours, at 23 ° C, a neutral gas atmosphere and / or a vacuum relative to the ambient pressure preferably prevailing inside the container, once the can is closed.
• O 2 typically less than 0.008 ml of oxygen
• the gas permeability will preferably be measured with a relative humidity of 50% (“OXTRAN” control method).
• the “per container” permeability indicates a measure of permeability for a container (when grouped together; see more far) that the ambient air penetrates through the wall of the container itself or from the seal.
• the (each) container comprises walls made up of several thermoformed layers of material, several such containers preferably being linked together, in a separable manner, on at least one side by means of a peripheral rim, along a junction zone, the peripheral rim having a face upper and lower face, the material layers of the walls including: • internally and externally, including at the location of the upper face of the ' peripheral rim receiving the corresponding protective cover, a layer of polyolefin, or containing it, preferably polypropylene, or polyester, or containing it, and said barrier vis-à-vis the penetration of oxygen into the container, this barrier comprising a metal-based barrier layer and / or a ceramic-based barrier layer and / or a plastic-based barrier layer, the metal-based barrier layer comprising in its composition a metal or metal alloy from among aluminum, copper, iron and tin, the ceramic barrier layer
• the invention relates to a process for obtaining an assembly comprising such a packaging filled with cooked food product (s) intended to be kept as already indicated.
• the objectives are the same as those mentioned above, in alternatives or in combination.
• thermoformable plastic containers are thermoformed, - and one obtains, along the junction zone between two adjacent containers, a portion having mechanical weakening to allow the containers to be separated from one another.
• the area exhibiting mechanical weakening will be produced by cutting the rim, by laser or water jet, after the thermoforming step of the containers.
• a pulse laser is preferred, producing a slit, here a notch, discontinuous with a depth greater than a third of the thickness e of the side walls of the container and sufficient for its bottom to reach or be immediately close to the layer (33). of oxygen barrier material interposed between said inner and outer layers (31,35).
• an atmosphere of neutral gas and / or a relative depression that is to say a depression with respect to at atmospheric pressure
• an oxygen permeability of the closed package preferably between 0.01 ml and 0.001 ml of O2 per container per twenty -four hours, always at 23 ° C, so that once the seal is sealed on the container we maintain this neutral gas atmosphere and / or this vacuum, at a temperature below about 55 ° C, and preferably at room temperature.
• thermoform the (each) container - by providing this container with at least one said barrier against the penetration of oxygen, under the conditions already described, - and by defining for the container of particular height, volume and / or shape as claimed for four or two containers.
• the sterilization step comprises sterilization (or pasteurization) HTST (high temperature short time).
• the search for a preservation which can be long, with fairly rigorous sealing characteristics, including at the interface container / lid another characteristic advises that the (each) container has multi-layer walls comprising, from the inside to the outside of the container, and. from the face receiving the protective cover towards the opposite face, a first layer comprising polypropylene, a second barrier layer comprising an ethylvinyl alcohol (EVOH) and a third layer comprising polypropylene.
• EVOH ethylvinyl alcohol
• the seal it is also recommended, for the same purpose of efficient conservation and controlled production cost, that it includes, from its inner face coming into contact with the container concerned to close it, towards the opposite outer face, d firstly its inner layer which comprises polypropylene, a second layer comprising a polyamide and a third layer comprising polyester, the second and / or third layer defining said oxygen barrier.
• the first layer of the cover comprises polypropylene, it is a polypropylene loaded with a powdery powder. not or not very sensitive to humidity (neutral mineral, such as crushed glass), to be weldable with the first layer of the container comprising polypropylene, while being peelable.
• each container in a partition block will preferably be mechanically weakened along the junction zone between two adjacent containers by a slit with a depth greater than a third (and even half) of the thickness of the side walls of these containers, this depth (even if it is a discontinuous slit) then being sufficient for its bottom to reach, or be immediately close to, the layer of O2 barrier material interposed between said inner and outer layers.
• the multi-layer walls of the containers will comprise, from the inside towards the outside of the container considered, a layer of, or comprising a homopolymer, a layer containing this homopolymer and a proportion of oxygen barrier material, a layer of the same oxygen barrier material, such as EVOH, and a layer of copolymer.
• the layer or layers comprising the omopolymer will advantageously (together) be thicker than that comprising the copolymer.
• this or these layer / layers comprising the homopolymer and that or layer comprising the copolymer will preferably comprise polypropylene.
• a corollary problem to that of conservation at controlled cost for a production in very large series relates to the mechanical behavior of the container both during the sterilization / cooking of food and subsequently, when handling the packaging so that 'they are sold, or even more rd, when handled by consumers.
• the following characteristics of mechanical and / or thermal resistance are therefore important.
• each container concerned is based on plastic material, even if these materials may contain subsidiary amounts of metal or ceramic, in particular. The fact remains that here it is considered advantageous to be able to offer consumers the ability to heat the preserved food in different ways.
• the packaging of the invention be devoid of a metallic mass such that this would prevent it from being placed in a microwave oven, so that its contents are heated there in order to be consumed hot and, preferably, the covers (s) and containers are transparent or translucent.
• a sterilized canned product comprising at least one cooked food product contained in said packaging, itself sterilized, so as to be kept at room temperature for a period of several months, which can go up to several years, as already indicated, the packaging having for this all or part of the characteristics presented, such as at least one thermoformed container with the layers of material concerned, likewise for the sealed seal.
• FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 are three perspective views of a package comprising respectively two, four and one, container (s) or portion (s), (a disposition of the containers in "camembert” would be possible), - Figures 3 and 5 are respectively a top view of Figure 1 and the Figure 2, - Figure 4 is a side view in the direction of arrow IV of Figure 3, - Figure 6 is a sectional view along line VI of Figure 5, - Figure 7 is a partial view in enlarged vertical section of materials consisting of a cover and a container, sealed together, this view corresponding to an enlargement in section of detail VII of FIG. 4, and FIG.
• the packaging (respectively 1, 10, 100) may comprise one or preferably several containers, respectively 3.5; 7,9,11,13 and 2. Of course if there are several containers, they can be arranged in multiple rows (three, four ..), in camembert ...
• Each container, as well as the assembly formed by these together have (s) an outer rim 15.
• Each rim is located at the top of the side walls 17, opposite the bottom 19. It preferably has a thickness identical or similar to those walls 17.19.
• the periphery of the rim considered for all of the containers joined together is bordered by a fallen edge 21 which extends it, this fallen edge having a priori intrinsically a mechanical resistance greater than that of the junction zone 20 of the rim 15 by which two adjacent containers are joined together ( Figures 1,2), this elongated junction zone having a mechanical weakness (which can be obtained by a slot 40) making it possible to break the junction between the containers at this point, in order to separate them.
• a slit will preferably extend into the fallen edge 21, advantageously in the extension of the slit 40 of the rim, or adjacent to it.
• each seal and each container is made of plastic material having, respectively, to seal them between them at the location of the rim 15, a contact layer 27, 31 (FIG. 7) made of polyolefin or polyester (this layer being called the inner layer).
• a polypropylene layer is preferred, with even advantageously a powdery powder charge not or not very sensitive to humidity, to facilitate the peelable nature of the cover 25 which is a priori a film for reasons of cost, ease of use and handling.
• the total thicknesses of the walls of each container and of the lid are preferably respectively between 0.3mm and 3mm approximately, and 35 microns and 150 microns, approximately.
• each container preferably has semi-rigid multilayer walls (15,17,19) comprising from the inside of each container towards the outside and from the face of the edge receiving the lid towards the opposite face (lower face): layer 31 preferably made of polypropylene, then a barrier layer 33 and a third layer 35 made of polyester or again of polyolefin (polypropylene in particular).
• the first layer 31 is thicker than the third 35, because the first layer is called to be in contact with liquid if the product contained in the container is bathed in such a liquid (juice).
• the second layer / barrier layer 33 it is, as already indicated, a barrier vis-à-vis the penetration of oxygen into the container.
• This layer may include a barrier based on metal, ceramic or plastic.
• cover 25 it itself comprises in FIG. 7, from its inner layer 27 outwards, and in addition to this layer, a second layer 37 comprising a polyamide and a third layer 39 comprising a polyamide or polyester, layer 37 and / or layer 39 define an oxygen barrier.
• Polyester is a non-stick during welding (container / lid sealing).
• the oxygen barrier will comprise a silicon oxide (SiOx).
• an AlOx can be used, in particular.
• the barrier layer now will not prevent the predominantly transparent or translucent character of the walls of the container and of the cover.
• the barrier is based on a metal compound, its thickness will advantageously be between 3 microns and 500 microns approximately, and preferably between 5 and 30 microns. If it is a layer comprising a ceramic, the thickness of the layer will be between 3 and 50 nm. In the hypothesis of a plastic barrier, the thickness will a priori be greater than 8-10 microns, and preferably between approximately 40 microns e ⁇ t 70 microns.
• the metal layers can be produced by partial vacuum deposition, the ceramic layers by electro-deposition (in particular the technique called "electron beam evaporation" - evaporation with an electron beam).
• each lid and the walls of the containers are linked together by bonding agents such as vinyl chloride copolymers, acetate copolymers of vinyl chlorur ⁇ s, polymerizable polyesters, pyricdin vinyl polymers, in combination with epoxy resins, phenolic resins, acrylic resins or organosilanes.
• Adhesives could also be used such as polyester copolyamides, phenolic resins of the nitrile rubber type ("nitril rul ber phenolic resins”), or vinyl-ethylene acetate copolymers, in particular.
• the preferred dimensions of the containers are the following: - set of four containers: common height h between approximately 35 mm and 65 mm, and preferably between 40 mm and 55 mm, each container has, at the place of its bottom, a width 1 between 20 mm and 80 mm, and preferably between 20 mm and 40 mm, as well as a length L included between 60 mm and 120 mm, and preferably between 65 mm and 85 mm, - set of two containers: common height h ′ between approximately 20 mm and 65 mm, and preferably between 30 mm and 45 mm, each container present, at its bottom, a width l 'between 40 mm and 120 mm, and preferably between 65 mm and 85 mm, as well as a length L' between 75 mm and 120 mm, and preferably between 80 mm and 95 mm.
• each container will be between 600 ml and 1200 ml, and preferably between 800 ml and 950 ml.
• these include structural reinforcements along the abovementioned joining zone 20. These reinforcements, such as 35a, 35b, are formed by protuberances produced during the molding of the containers and therefore integrated into them.
• thermoforming makes it possible to achieve the above dimensions and shapes, in particular in height, with the desired thicknesses (preferably constant thickness, including at the edge and the fallen edge 21) with an efficient quality and cost of manufacture. As can be seen in FIGS.
• the reinforcements are formed in relief on the lower face 15a of the rim, on either side of the junction zone 20.
• there are opposite corresponding recesses such as 37a, 37b, preferably of the same thickness as that of the rim which is itself then substantially constant, except in the central part. where the thickness is preferably less, in alignment or continuity with the slot 40, to facilitate the separation between several joined containers.
• the raised / hollow reinforcements are advantageously located closer to the peripheral outer limit of the rim 15 than to the side walls of the adjacent containers concerned, this near the longitudinal ends of the corresponding zone or junction line 20.
• a triangular (figures 3 and 5) or star (in the center figure 5) shape facilitates gripping of the cover, the triangle or star being split into two parts, on either side of the mechanical weakening 40 made along the joining strip 20, to allow separation between the containers concerned.
• the container 2, 3, 5; 7, 9, 11, or 13 in question is plastic-based and is semi-rigid to support sterilization and / or vacuum.
• each container is therefore also transparent or translucent, which makes it possible to verify the content (state of cooking, possible oxidation) and to avoid the drawbacks of the opaque walls (in particular metallic), likewise for the seal which is a flexible film, a priori peelable.
• the closed packaging full, lid possibly still sealed
• the heating can be carried out by double boiler if one wishes not to have to empty the container. to heat it with its contents.
• each container is strongly recommended, allowing the use of the materials already mentioned and still presented below, with a well mastered manufacturing technique, in large series to make the cost and to obtain container dimensions (in particular in height) such that the height of the container (including if it is unique) is between 20mm and 120mm, and preferably between 25mm and 80mm, and more preferably between 30mm and 60mm.
• the materials chosen for the containers and the lids also favor, in the thicknesses concerned, such HTST sterilization. If, as is preferred, a vacuum is established in the sealed container, it is recommended that this vacuum is therefore between 100b and 250mb. Any aspect of the lid curved outward would then be a sign of poor conservation.
• the oxygen barrier effect of the containers, cover (s) and their sealing interface is important, for long-term preservation optimized at more than twelve months, and preferably more than eighteen months as already indicated. This is moreover to be compared to the faster sterilization / cooking which is planned to be ensured by carrying out a HTST sterilization / pasteurization beyond 121 ° C. and for a period of less than 20 min (or even less than 12 minutes, at maximum pressure and temperature).
• the heating temperature reached by this precooked product which will therefore be sterilized with its receptacle where it was previously placed, will be between 123 ° C and 132 ° C, and advantageously between 125 ° C and 130 ° C, with a plateau at this temperature preferably between 3mn and 15mn, and advantageously between 4mn and 9mn, at a bearing pressure comprised (during this period) between 2000bars and 3600bars, and advantageously between 2400bars and 3200bars.
• the time to reach the pressure / temperature level will be between 4mn and 15mn, and advantageously between 6mn and 12mn. This will be followed by a pre-cooling between 90 ° C and 100 ° C, for 3 to 7 minutes, with practically the same pressure, then a final cooling of approximately 15 to 25 minutes, to descend to 30-40 ° C and at ambient pressure.
• a pre-cooling between 90 ° C and 100 ° C, for 3 to 7 minutes, with practically the same pressure, then a final cooling of approximately 15 to 25 minutes, to descend to 30-40 ° C and at ambient pressure.
• polyester from the inside to the outside (the inside being the side of the container in contact with the product contained therein): - a layer of homopolymer 31a, polypropylene (PP, in particular), a layer, or under-layer, 31b, mixed of homopolymer (such as PP) and of regrind container material (therefore comprising a proportion of oxygen barrier material, such as OVOH), - a binder interlayer / adhesive, 34a, such as EVA, - the layer 33 of oxygen barrier material (of course then in the same material as that mentioned above), - another interlayer 34b of binder / adhesive, and - an outer layer 35 copolymer, such as again a polyolefin (PP) or polyester, the choice of polyester can also be that of the above-mentioned homopolymer inner layer.
• a layer of homopolymer 31a polypropylene (PP, in particular), a layer, or under-layer, 31b, mixed of homopolymer (such as PP) and of
• the two sub-layers 31a, 31b could constitute the layer 31 mentioned before.
• layers either exclusively thus constituted, or mainly thus constituted, that is to say layers containing such a constituent.
• the layer (s) located on the inner side of the oxygen barrier intermediate layer being favorably thicker than the outer layer of copolymer located on the other side, an asymmetrical multilayer structure will therefore be obtained, in the sense that the layer 33 of barrier material is not located in the middle of the thickness of the wall, but offset from the outside, the regrind obtained typically by scraps or by recycling being a priori only disposed on one side of the barrier layer 33 , precisely on the inside.
• the thickness of the layer of barrier material 33 will be at least 16 ⁇ m, finished container (already therefore thermoformed), this thickness being favorably between 40 and 80 ⁇ m, on the original sheet, before thermoforming.
• the total thickness of the wall e of each container it will favorably be between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm, and preferably between 1 mm and 1.4 mm.
• Each binder / adhesive interlayer may have a thickness of the order of 1 to 2 ⁇ m.
• plastic containers multi-layers, rigid or semi-rigid, obtained by thermoforming, a priori sterilizable in an autoclave, the containers being moreover therefore likely to pass in the microwave and let the consumer see, or guess, the product through the walls of the container.
• These containers will also offer: - an oxygen barrier allowing them to keep the cooked product contained inside for several years, of course once the sealed heat-sealed seal on its rim, - and / or the possibility of obtain breakable containers, easy to separate, while having sufficient mechanical and thermal resistance, combined or separated.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-17 AT AT05742899T patent/ATE474790T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-03-17 EP EP05742899A patent/EP1751028B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-03-17 DE DE602005022432T patent/DE602005022432D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-03-17 WO PCT/FR2005/000655 patent/WO2005090199A2/fr not_active Ceased

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