JPH08510708A - Packaging system to extend the shelf life of food - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] The tray has a flange with one or more raised ridges, and a pair of membranes can enclose the tray in a closed manner. The lower membrane can be attached to the first protrusion of the flange and the upper membrane can be attached to the second protrusion or recess lip of the flange. Bonding of the upper film to the lower film can be avoided other than bonding via the tray. The two attachment surfaces can be separated by grooves or by arranging at different levels. The method and apparatus for manufacturing a modified atmosphere package uses a carousel, which causes a plurality of trays to be packaged to be transported between stations arranged in a circle. The tray is placed on the receiving platform. First, the tray is placed on a moveable bed, then the reciprocable bed moves downwards and the tray is removably retained in a slot in the moveable platform. The platform is removable from the conveyor so it can be centered in any station. For this centering, the platform is lifted from the conveyor and then guided to be precisely aligned with a particular station. The package is filled and the atmosphere is replaced with a gas having a low oxygen content to seal the package. This can be done in continuous motion, the film being cut from the continuous web. A package, packaging method, and packaging apparatus with replaceable ambient atmosphere to facilitate packaging of large meat products and achieve a desired gas atmosphere to extend shelf life. The package includes a pair of preformed, relatively rigid, plastic dome-shaped or cup-shaped members that are sealed along a sealing surface. The upper package portion 318 and the lower package portion 310 have flanges 312, 336, which not only facilitate formation of the package, but also facilitate later opening thereof. The reciprocable fill tube 320 maintains the spacing between the upper and lower package portions to allow gas exchange, then the reciprocable fill tube is moved downward and the upper package portion is moved to the lower package portion. Abutting on the part, a sealing connection is realized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention            Packaging system to extend the shelf life of food   The present invention Keep the packaged product under one condition, Then The state To be able to change one state to another, Machine for packaging food, Packaging, Or Regarding methods related to these. For example, While transporting Food package , Maintain an inert gas atmosphere, Then Packaged products are supermarkets Reaches other retailers, You can expose your food to the surrounding atmosphere Swelling. Packaging a wide variety of food products in accordance with the teachings of the present invention Is possible. Particularly advantageous is that A package filled with a modified atmosphere If you put meat in Ji, Transport meat in a relatively inert atmosphere, Next so, When you reach the retail store, Can be colored by exposing the meat to oxygen It   In the old days, Meat products are At each supermarket or retail store, Slaughter , It was manufactured by packaging. But, Already long ago From This method Very inefficient, It was perceived to be costly. Not like this Slaughter and packaging in efficient equipment, Then When shipped to individual supermarkets or other retail stores, Scale melit You can get it.   in the past, This desired goal is Most consumers blush when exposed to oxygen Because he likes to buy meat, Was not achieved. Meat is Only two days a day red Do not maintain. afterwards, The meat turns purple, This is desirable for most consumers No Therefore, Commercialize meat by slaughtering and packaging in one place, Then When shipped to another location for sale, Package reaches retail store until, The meat turns purple, It becomes practically impossible to sell.   To overcome these problems, Keep meat products in the first atmosphere during shipping Then Then When it came time to sell meat products, In the second atmosphere To keep Many efforts have been made. All of these technologies Commercially Not considered to be widely accepted. Therefore, Meat processing in remote areas, Several days Provided with a package that allows for later sale and Highly desired.   One problem is Although the need for such a package is great, Consumers A great deal This is because they don't want to invest a large amount of money in the excellent package itself. Therefore, Two Is convertible between very different package conditions of Moreover, Low cost It is highly desirable to manufacture a package. Furthermore, The new package is the consumer It would be advantageous to resemble a package that is familiar with.   One attempted solution to these problems is Plastis containing meat products The purpose is to provide a double cover to cover the package. The top cover is gas Impermeable, If you peel off the top cover, Air permeable bottom cover Exposed Be done. In this way This package is Shipped with the top cover attached Is Therefore, The inert gas atmosphere is Maintained in package throughout shipping Be done. Then The top cover Removed in the supermarket, that time, Lower power The bar is It remains as it is. The lower cover is Because it is oxygen permeable, Meat contacts oxygen And blush.   Conventionally, A double-layer package like this Adhesive fixing the upper layer to the lower layer, Then Apply these two layers to the package itself by heat sealing or other means By doing Had been formed. For example, When the upper layer is removed, The adhesive is in the lower layer May be retained, This interferes with the oxygen permeability of the lower layer. Change To When removing the upper layer, Tear the lower layer, Somehow remove it Is difficult to prevent. In addition, the two layers can be delaminated cleanly. Manufacturing a package that can Have difficulty.   Various excellent technologies It was designed to prevent interference between layers, These hands The law is Normal, Increase package cost, Increases package complexity. Change To Removing the top layer (sealed to the bottom layer) without removing the bottom layer Difficult is there. Efforts have been made to overcome these problems, No commercially viable solution I couldn't.   The dome-shaped package for meat products is For example, a large fillet of chicken or loin Used to house. But, These packages are Many shortcomings Have.   Adjust the atmosphere in the meat storage package, Delays food aging, Supermarket It is desirable to extend its shelf life on the market. For example, Low oxygen content By forming an environment, The shelf life of food is A few days to more than 2 weeks or maybe It can be extended more than this.   To make consumers feel good about food packaging, Most of the food is visually I have to come. To maintain the desired atmosphere around the food in the package To A slightly larger package than food is needed. But, big, Relatively heavy For meat products, Make a gap around the food, Moreover, Make products attractive in containers To house Have difficulty.   Furthermore, Consumers Normal, I want to be able to see the food, so Between food and container The gap will be visible to consumers. Consumers The package is too big, Wasteful You might think that. Furthermore, If the product is substantially larger than the food, Food is , Move during transport and handling, The package itself is dented, Other damage It   in the past, Deep drawing package Used for this type of package. Only Then Deep drawing package, If the size is large, molding becomes difficult, Package The material is significantly deformed. These packages are Above all, Thin spot Easy to form, The corner area is easily dented or collapsed.   In this way The applicant is Rather than using deep drawing plastic molding technology, We have recognized that it is preferable to mold a domed package. Dome-shaped package According to A seal flap that joins the upper and lower package parts It is also possible to project the product upwards beyond the lunges. Specific package It is also possible to mold the package part from different materials depending on the needs of the cage. It is possible. For example, Mold the bottom part from foam material, Transparent plastic on top In some cases it may be desirable to mold it from a rack.   Requirements for larger packages made of relatively rigid packaging materials The matter is In conventional gas exchange technology to extend shelf life, In the package It seems to contradict the need for a special space. Therefore, Most popular Large foods simply, Wrapped in a plastic package, Super market Is Be prepared for the additional costs associated with meat loss.   Therefore, Package larger pieces of meat in the desired gas environment. And enable A relatively rigid dome-shaped food package, Packaging method , And providing a packaging device, Highly desirable.   These and other challenges Having multiple packaging stations, Break The problem is solved by an apparatus for manufacturing a quality atmosphere package. Of these stations Some of the There is at least one station for loading food into trays. rotation The conveyor Move the tray from one station to the next. rotation Conveyor It has a platform for transporting multiple trays. Packages One of the stations Place the tray on the platform. Another one of the stations is Unload the tray from the platform. Training Before coating the package with the package film, The atmosphere in the tray Oxygen content A device is provided for displacement with a small gas.   In another aspect of the invention, The modified atmosphere package manufacturing method is Multiple g Loading and placing the lay on a carousel. Tray On the round road It is indexed among a plurality of distributed stations. The atmosphere in the tray is Once the food is received, Is discharged. Tray the film Covered by This allows A low oxygen content atmosphere is maintained in the tray It Tray Then Unloaded from the carousel.   In another form of the invention, The flexible first membrane Sealed on a tray. flexible The second membrane is Sealed in a tray, that time, The second membrane is To cover the first membrane Will be placed. These membranes Attached to the tray elsewhere on the tray surface. this These membranes are Arranged substantially in the same plane as each other, Trays independent of each other Can be removed from   Figure 1 shows 1 shows a plan view of one embodiment of the package 10 of the present invention.   Figure 2 shows Enlarged side cut of the package 10 shown by cutting along the line 2-2 in FIG. It is a side view.   Figure 3 shows FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the package 10 of the present invention.   Figure 4 shows An enlarged cross section of the package 10 shown by cutting along line 3-3 in FIG. It is a figure.   Figure 5 shows It is a conceptual diagram which shows the method of assembling the package 10 of FIG.   Figure 6 shows FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG.   Figure 7 shows FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.   Figure 8 shows Of the embodiment of FIG. 6 showing the loading area for receiving trays for packaging. It is a part of enlarged top view.   Figure 9 shows 9 is a front elevational view of the portion of FIG.   Figure 10 shows A row of trays placed on the receiving platform and positioned After being FIG. 10 is a front elevational view corresponding to FIG. 9.   Figure 11 shows It is a top view of the part of FIG.   Figure 12 shows To show four stations instead of two, Vacuum and gas supply The feeding system was removed, FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view with a part cut away.   Figure 13 shows See Figure 12 after the platform is removed from the rotating arm. FIG.   Figure 14 shows FIG. 12 is a plan view of a quick disconnect tool of step 122c.   Figure 15 shows FIG. 15 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14. It   Figure 16 shows FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view of the shipping station.   Figure 17 shows Shipping stay after the platform is lifted to the up position FIG.   Figure 18 shows FIG. 17 after the tray has been pushed and placed on the unloading conveyor It is a top view of the Example of.   Figure 19 shows It is an expanded partial sectional view of the bottom of a surge tank.   Figure 20 shows 3 illustrates three stages in one embodiment of the packaging process of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a simplified sectional view.   Figure 21 shows Figure 20b is a partial enlarged top view of the package of Figure 20a.   Figure 22 shows Figure 20b is a partial enlarged top view of the package of Figure 20b.   Figure 23 shows Packaging apparatus for completing the process steps of Figure 20b. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one embodiment of FIG.   Figure 24 shows No. 23 located to complete the process steps of FIG. 20c It is an expanded sectional view of the package apparatus of the figure.   Figure 25 shows An enlarged top view of another embodiment of the package in the position of FIG. 20b. Is.   In the drawing, The same reference numerals or symbols are attached to the same parts, A package 10 containing one or more food items "A", Shown (No. 1 to 2). Package 10 is Above all, Suitable for accommodating red meat. Package 10 is A relatively rigid tray 12, Membrane 14 with relatively low transmittance When, The film 16 having a relatively large transmittance. Membranes 14 and 16 are Training around It is joined to -12.   Tray 12 Made of a relatively rigid synthetic resin, It is formed by thermoforming or the like. Tray 12 Advantageously, Made of gas impermeable material, Single polymer sheet It may consist of Polymer sheet, For example polyvinyl chloride, Nylon, full Orohalo carbon, Polyurethane, Or There are composites of polymer materials. This compound The polymer materials that make up the coalescence include PVC, PVC and polyolefin, PVC and Saran (Saran), PVC, Saran and polyolefin, PVC, Saran and ethylene-vinegar Vinyl acetate copolymer, Polystyrene, saran and polyolefin, Polystyrene And Saran and copolymer, Nylon, Saran and Polyolefin, Polyolefin and Orchid and polyethylene, Polyester, saran and polyolefin, Polycarbonate Tosaran and polyolefin, Or Many other materials will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. It Tray 12 Advantageously, Forms a good oxygen barrier, Has suitable thermoformability , Strong enough, The tray 12 is made of a material that easily attaches other materials to the tray 12.   Tray 12 In the illustrated embodiment, Although it is almost square, But, For example, round shape ( Another type of tray 12, such as (not shown), Considered in accordance with the present invention. tray 12 is Having a curved bottom surface 18, The curved bottom surface 18 is The boundary of the cavity that holds food A Stipulated, The double flange edge 20 is It extends around the periphery of the bottom surface 18.   This double flange edge 20 A set of ledges separated by a groove 26 22, With 24. The outermost edge 28 of the flange 20 is Bend down Can be set. In one illustrated embodiment, The bottom surface 18 and the flange 20, single It can be shaped as a body. In one embodiment, Ledge 22, Two The upper surface of 4 is Be in a single plane. This allows Protrusion 22, 24, Membrane 14, 16 Is Defining a substantially flat surface formed on the upper surface of the package 10. Become. In this regard, Tray 12 Made of porous foam material, This phone The comb-shaped material is Heat pressed, This allows Protrusion 22, 24 height uniform Sex The uniformity of the wall thickness of the tray 12, Guaranteed. Such a flat surface film 14, Facilitates a more reliable connection to 16, Stacking many packages up and down to enable.   The layer 14 having a relatively high transmittance is Advantageously, Eg flexible plastic material Made of flexible and elastic material, Required for certain specific applications, Allow gas exchange It is something. In order to keep the redness of red meat well, Normal, High transmittance The membrane 14 It is desirable to have a large atmospheric transmittance. Very different materials , Can function as the membrane 14, Such materials include For example, Poly Vinyl chloride, Polycarbonate, polyethylene, Polyethylene copolymer, Aio Nomar film, Or There are any other gas permeable materials, Material like this The fee is It will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The membrane 14 is May consist of microporous film Noh, The pores of such a film are It is chemically or mechanically formed. Membrane 1 4 is All that is required is strength that does not allow holes to open during use.   The membrane 14 is It is fixed to the tray 12 by an inner protrusion 24. In this regard, The membrane 14 is The tray 12 is made of a heat sealable material, desirable. But, It is also possible to adhesively fix the peripheral edge of the membrane 14 to the inner protrusion 24. Is. In this specification, The film What is "sealed" on the tray? Phil Rum Is it heat-fused to the tray, Or Meant to be adhesively secured to the tray Taste, It is used in contrast to the case where it is frictionally connected to the tray. Protrusions 22 and 24 A groove 26 is formed between them. The groove 26 is Fix the membrane 14 to the inner protrusion 24 Help out. Above all, The membrane 14 includes the tray 12 and the protrusions 22, Zhang over 24 After being given The membrane 14 is Fixed to the inner protrusion 24, Then Cutting press down Trimmed by moving it through the membrane 14 and into the groove 26 . For this, It will be described later. The groove 26 is Although it is U-shaped in FIG. 2, But, groove 26 is V type, Semicircular, Rectangle, Other, aesthetic, functional, Or for any other reason It is also possible to have an arbitrary arbitrary shape.   The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance also Advantageously, Eg flexible plastic material Of flexible and elastic material. But, The membrane 16 is Advantageously, Gas permeability ratio Selected from a group of relatively small materials, Such materials include For example, polyester , Nylon, Cellophane, polypropylene, Polyvinyl acetate, Saran, or Is There are combinations of these materials. Advantageously, The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is , It is gas impermeable.   The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is It is detachably fixed to the outer protrusion 22, This Also fixed, Heat seal, Adhesive technology, Or Realized by other known technology It The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is Fixed to the outer protrusion 22, The membrane 16 is Trimmed by moving the cutting press down to penetrate the membrane 16, That When The trimming position is It is located outward from the outermost edge 28. Alternative By the way If you want The membrane 16 is Before fixing to the outer protrusion 22, Trimming You can also In any case, The membrane 16 is Advantageously, Cut leaving the overhang 19 Be arranged. because, By raising the overhanging part 19, Easy membrane 16 Can be removed, Release from the joint with the outer protrusion 22, The film 16 can be easily peeled off Because. The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is When fixed to the protrusion 22 , It is not bonded to the film 14 having a relatively large transmittance, However, Friction coupling, Or , Indirect joining via the tray 12 is excluded. This allows Membrane with relatively low transmittance 16 Facilitates proper removal from the package 10, that time, Transmittance It is easily possible to leave the relatively large membrane 14 unchanged. Membrane 16 , 16 is Not joined to each other, But, Membrane 14, 16 is In effect, Mutual I Located in the same plane as They are in contact with each other, Advantageously, Slightly elastic I'm nervous.   Both membranes 14 and 16 are After being fixed on the tray 12, Food accommodated The desired atmosphere for item A is It is held in the package 10. this is, This Seal the enclosed package in a desired atmosphere such as It can also be realized by For red meat products, In some examples , The first atmosphere is Oxygen concentration is relatively low. For example, Considerable concentration of carbon dioxide A gas containing elemental or nitrogen is Held in a package, This allows Food A Contact with oxygen Will be reduced. For meat foods, This allows Meat product red until later The delay can be delayed.   When a product reaches a supermarket or other retail store, Comparison of transmittance To remove the smaller membrane 16 Sometimes desirable. Removal of the membrane 16 Upper part Hold the edge of the membrane 16 of By pulling upward, It is done properly. film 16 is Since it is not bonded to the membrane 14, Easy from the rest of the package 10 Can be removed.   afterwards, Package 10 is There is no film 16 having a relatively small transmittance, It only has a membrane 14 and a tray 12 with a relatively high transmittance. Contains meat products In some embodiments, To cause redness in meat products, Membrane 14 having a relatively large transmittance It may be desirable for oxygen to be permeable.   In this way Once the membrane 16 having a relatively low transmittance is removed at the store, Lean meat Meat product A is Exposed to high concentrations of oxygen, Blush.   In one alternative embodiment, For one particular application, Membrane 14, 16 are both Real It consists of a qualitatively impermeable material. This configuration form is For example, Alternative label mounting Helps to provide a kicking method. In such an embodiment, The lower membrane is For example advertising Have labels such as labels for supermarkets or other retail stores, The upper membrane is On the other hand, Has the label of the original meat packager, This label has To the ultimate buyer of meat not, Instructions for retail butchers can be included. in this case, Outer membrane 16 Is For the inner membrane 14, Can be easily removed.   3 to 4, One alternative embodiment of package 10 is It is shown. When Riwake, This example Considering the protrusion 52, This protrusion 52 is Dent Surrounded by the hopper 54, The recessed lip 54 is It has an outermost edge 56. In this example, The film 14 having a relatively large transmittance is First of all, Fixed to the protrusion 52 Defined, Then Cutting by moving the cutting press down to penetrate the membrane 14. Arranged, that time, The trimming position is Located radially outward from the protrusion 52, This is the position allowed by the recessed lip 54. Then Membrane with relatively low transmittance 16 is Tensioned over tray 12, It is adhered to the lip 54. Transmittance The relatively small membrane 16 Move the cutting press (not shown) downward to penetrate the membrane 16. By trimming it, that time, The trimming position is Outermost edge 5 6 to the outside. In this way The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is Transmittance Has a larger surface area than the relatively large membrane 14, This allows The membrane 16 It is possible to wrap the membrane 14 from the outside. The membrane 16 is Shape the overhanging portion 58 Can be cut to This allows Removal of the film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is Content It will be easier. That is, Lift the overhanging part 58, Release from joining with edge 56 By peeling off the film 16, The membrane 16 is Can be easily removed. further, Membrane 14, 16 is Located in substantially the same plane as each other, The surfaces are in contact with each other. , Respectively, Slightly elastically strained.   In this example, The desired atmosphere Same as described in connection with the previous embodiment. It is held in the package 10 in the same manner. The product is Supermarket or When you reach other retailers, The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is Overhang of membrane 16 It can be properly and easily removed by grasping the pulling portion 58 and pulling it upward. After this , Package 10 is There is no film 16 having a relatively small transmittance, Transmittance ratio It only has a relatively large membrane 14 and tray 12. this is, Explained earlier This is the same as the embodiment.   In Figure 5, One exemplary process for forming the package 10 is Shown There is. Starting from the right side of Figure 5, From below in a rigid peripheral mating carrier 60 On the tray 12 that is held, Food A is filled by conventional methods. Then Package From page 10, Eliminate oxygen, Then With a transport gas with a relatively low oxygen content Fill with gas. The web of the membrane 14 having a relatively large transmittance is A pair of rolls 62 and And 64. The tray 12 is placed on the tray 12 so as to cover it and positioned. Transparent The film 70 having a relatively high rate It is fixed to the inner protrusion 24. This fixation is For example , It is performed by the heat sealing machine 66. Then Conventional cutting press 28 Using, The web 70 is cut. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, Web 70 , Cut at a position adjacent to the groove 26. In FIGS. 3-4, Web 70, Dent Cut at a position above the lip 54, Lip 54 itself, Functions as groove and recess Let In either case, The groove 26 or lip 54 The said on the package 10 To facilitate removal and cutting of the membrane 14 from the web 70 located at the location. Is It is clear. Web 70, Using heat energy or ultrasonic energy It is also possible to cut it.   At the next station A web 76 of material 16 having a relatively low permeability, A pair of Roll 72, From 74, Position on top of package 10. Figures 1- In the embodiment shown in FIG. The web 76 having a relatively small transmittance, It is fixed to the protrusion 22. On the contrary, In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-4, Web 76 with relatively low transmittance Is It is fixed to the outermost edge 56. In either case, This fixation is Obedience Done using traditional technology, Such technologies include For example, Heat sealing machine 42 Etc. at this point, The transport gas is enclosed in the package 10. Finally, We Bu76 It is cut by a conventional cutting device 78. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, , Cut slightly outside edge 28. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-4, Outer edge Cut slightly out of J 56. This allows Of material 16 with relatively low transmittance The overhanging piece 19 or 58 remains, The user Hold this overhanging piece 19 or 58 Have it, The film 16 is removed. this is, Can be run whenever the user wants is there.   Once assembled, The packages will be shipped to retail locations. At a retail store , Package, As mentioned later, store it in the store until it is in a good condition. this During the storage period, The film 16 having a relatively small transmittance is Peeled off, Be discarded. Short storage After the period The package is Put up for sale in retail. A certain storage period , Oxygen flowing through the membrane 14 having a relatively high transmittance is absorbed by the package. It is necessary to After the meat food blushes, Meat food Retail for sale Issued to.   By providing the groove 26 or the lip 50, Both membranes 14, 16 identical training -12 can be installed, High-speed production is possible. Simplification of Figure 5 The process The product is Suggests that it will be packaged in a sequential fashion, , But, Such a process Applicable to various conventional packaging devices .   A membrane with a relatively large transmittance is A membrane with a relatively low transmittance is attached to function. Until Advantageously, it is sufficient to maintain the desired gas environment in the package It this is, This is especially true in high speed systems. But, In some situations Is A membrane station with a relatively large transmittance, The membrane has a relatively low transmittance. Between the It is beneficial to provide a special gas atmosphere.   The same process is Produces a package in which both membranes are substantially impermeable Can be used for   The packaging machine 120 shown in FIG. It has four stations 122. this The machine is Although shown in a four station format embodiment, But, Illustrated One or more of the Sometimes not used, In any particular embodiment, With more or less than 4 stations Is it possible to Or it may be desirable. Four stations 122 Is Packages that are rotated and moved from one station to the next Act on.   The package to produce is Held on the platform 124, Platform Mu 124 In the illustrated embodiment, Having a slot 126, Slot 126 is 4 Holds one package tray. Including the one shown Various package ties Are used.   Platform 124 Carried on the mounting arm 128, Mounting arm 1 28 is It is connected to a rotatable ring 130. The ring 130 is attached to the mechanism 132. More driven, The mechanism 132 is Can be any conventional type, But, Drive check Illustrated as a motor and motor unit.   The entire machine 120 Mounted on the base 134 which is mounted on the leg 136 Has been supported. The base 134 is Also supports the surge tank 138, surge The tank 138 is Supports the hanger assembly 140. The surge tank 138 is ring It provides a central support for mounting 130 and drive mechanism 132. Base 13 4 and hanger assembly 140 Various devices located at station 122 Can be used to support Station 122 platform Acts on the food tray contained in 124. For example, Shown in Figure 7 Like The tray loading mechanism 142 Linked to station 122a, Base It is placed on and supported by the spacer 134. Similarly, The tool machine assembly 144 Ha Has an upper portion 146 mounted and mounted on the ganger 140, Base 134 And has a lower portion 148 mounted and mounted on. The upper part 146 is Ha Has a housing or chamber 147, The lower part 148 is Housing or chamber 1 Has 49.   The tray loading mechanism 142 of FIG. Tray conveyor 150 and tray low It has a da 152. The conveyor 150 is It can be a conventional belt conveyor, This place If Tray 155 It is placed on the tray conveyor 150. Tray 155 , Positioned by stop bar 154, The stop bar 154 is Shirin Moved by da 156. At appropriate intervals, Tray 155 Second stop bar -Proceed toward 158, The position previously occupied by tray 155 is Occupy with new trays. The stop bar 158 is Second cylinder 160 Controlled by. In the tray 155, Pre-loaded with packaged food Mu.   Below the platform 124a, A cylinder 162 is provided, Be Move the pad 164 up and down. Bed 164 Has a stop 166 , Stop 166 is It is attached to the inner end of the bed 166. each Bed 164 Receives tray 155 from tray conveyor 150, Tray 15 Move 0 down into platform slot 126. in this way do it, There are multiple mechanisms 160 and 164, Each of these mechanisms The It corresponds to each of the slots 126 in the rat foam 124a.   In the example shown, Station 122b On an inactive station that is not used is there. But, In another use, All or one of the operations performed at another station It may be desirable or necessary to have parts performed at station 122b. Station 122b Used, for example, to load food into tray 155. It may be.   Station 122 Tool machine assembly 14 consisting of upper part 146 and lower part 148 Have 4. As shown in FIG. The upper chamber 147 is Mechanism 168 Mounted on top of, The mechanism 168 causes the upper chamber 147 to Up and down It can be moved toward or away from the platform 124. Similarly, beneath The chamber 149 is Mounted and mounted on the mechanism 170, Lower chamber 17 0 is Raise and lower the lower part 148, Headed to the bottom of platform 125 Away from you. If you want The upper chamber 147 or the lower chamber 149 is , It can also be stationary.   With the platform 124 attached to the arm 128, 12 and It is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. Platform 12 4 is Attached to arm 128 by a plurality of upstanding pins 172. Respectively The pin 172 of Has a tapered upper portion 174, The upper part 174 is Fit taper It fits into the profile 176. In this way Platform 124 , It is detachably attached to the arm 128 by a pin 172.   The lower chamber 149 is Having a pair of upright pins 178, The upright pins 178 are Destination Having a tapered portion 180, The tapered portion 180 is Inside the platform 124 It is fitted in the hole 182 of the. In this way The lower chamber 149 Above Move to engage the platform 124, Tapered portion 19 of pin 178 0 is It fits into a hole 182 in the platform 124. in this way do it, Platform 124 The station 122c is very accurately Are Positioned. As shown in FIG. Lower Chan Ba 149 In fact, Lift the platform 124, The pin 172 Away from This allows Accurate alignment Achieved. Upper part The chamber 147 and the lower chamber 149 are Accommodating the seal 184, Seal 1 84 is Provides air tightness with the top and bottom surfaces of platform 124 , This is also It is shown in FIG.   As shown in FIG. Upper part 146 and lower part 148 of tool machine assembly 144 The configuration form of Sealer 186 Cutter 188, Or web winding Dress It has a unit 190. Web 192 Unrolled from roll 194, Tool machine assembly Processed in 144, Transferred to discard roll 196. The film 192 is Food Can consist of any plastic film used for product packaging Noh, Such films include For example, plastic, Aluminum foil Ill, paper, Alternatively, there are cardboard composite films and the like.   The seam 192 The tray 155 is placed and positioned so as to cover the tray 155. When, The film 192 is By a sealer 186 attached to the shaft 208 Can be sealed. The seal bar is Telescopically reciprocates up and down at the appropriate time. And This allows The film 192 is sealed to the tray 155. Very various 186 can be used, But, One conventional sealer is Electric resistance Using the heating device 200, This allows The film is Heat-sealed to tray 155 Will be The stroke range of the vertical movement of the shaft 208 is By the intermediate stop 202 Controlled, that time, Conventional liquid energy sources are used. Intermediate stop 202 Is Part of tube 198, Tube 198 Sealed and fixed to the shaft 208 .   The sealer 186 For example, If you want to repair or clean Remove from this mechanism be able to. This removal is Easy by simply unscrewing the nut 206 You can do it. The shaft 208 and sealer 186 are Moved down from this mechanism Is Removed.   The cutter 188 is It has a pair of blades 210. The blade 210 is Plastic It is positioned so as to enter the recess 212 in the foam 124. This These blades The film 192 is cut, Spans the entire length of the upper edge of the tray Be positioned as is done. This allows The film 192 is Tray 15 Match the shape of 5. Of course, Any cutting method can be used. For example, There is cutting or heat division. One or more webs or films, Divide, To It can also be attached to the ray 155. Like the sealer 186 Cutter 188 , It reciprocates up and down around the sealer 186. The cutter 188 is Arm 216 Controlled by the attached stop 214 of that time, Conventional liquid energy Gee source is used.   The cutter 188 is It also has an internal cooling circuit 218. The circuit 218 is External cold Connected to the source This allows The circuit 218 is Medium for cooling the cutter 188 Supply the body. The cutter 188 is Placed close to the sealer 186, this Due to The cutter 188 is There is a risk of failure due to heat. Cutter -By cooling 188, High precision of cutting is possible even in an environment of relatively high temperature. Be held.   The lower chamber 149 is Has a gas exchange passage 230, The gas exchange path 230 is beneath It is disposed in the lower surface of the chamber 149. The upper chamber 147 also Gas exchange path 2 Has 32, The gas exchange path 232 is Located in the side wall of the upper chamber 147 There is. The lower part 148 is It may also contain a filler 234. Each platform Form 124 is It has a plurality of gas exchange paths 236. The gas exchange path 232 is First As shown in Figure 14, In communication with the vacuum source by a quick desorption device 238 There is. This device In the upper chamber 146, Fixed by screwed knob 240 There is. Similarly, The device 242 is Connect to lower chamber 149 with threaded knob 244 Continued, Gas exchange is achieved through the opening 230.   In Figure 14, Connections to top and bottom 146 and 148 all, Rapid exit It is a dressing ceremony, Therefore, The machine associated with any particular station 122 is machine Easy removal from the rest of the 120 it is obvious. Furthermore, Electricity And also connections for liquids, Similarly, A quick detachable type is sufficient. In this way 22 A connection like that shown in 0 Just unpull them, or Or Just those Can be released simply by twisting off Then Keep top and bottom 147 and 149 The mechanism 246 to have You can disconnect as well. This allows Upper and lower cha Numbers 147 and 149 are Can be removed quickly.   The shipping station 122d shown in FIG. Shipping conveyor 22 6 and tray pusher 228. At the right time, Platform 12 The tray 155 in 4 is Pushed upward by cylinder 230 of pusher 228 It Then Tray By slider 232 moved by cylinder 234 Pushed laterally. Tray As shown in FIG. Being pressed It is placed on the ya 226.   This machine approximately, It is operated as follows. at first, Multiple trays 155 But, The tray loading assembly 142 is mounted and arranged on the conveyor 150. First As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, Tray Stop bar 154 and The operation of 158 results in two rows of four trays each. Training -Is First of all, Allowed to collide with the stop bar 158, This , Tray It slides against a rotating conveyor 150. Then Second column The tray The first row of trays collides from behind and contacts.   As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, At the right time, Second stock Pull bar 158 is lowered, This allows the first row of trays to pass through and the bed 164. Can be placed on top of. next, Each bed 164 is lowered, Each training -155 is Retained in slot 126 in platform 124.   after a while, Platform 124 Rotated 90 degrees, Stacey Reach to 122b. Then By operating the stop bar 158, The second row of trays 155 Will be loaded into the subsequent platform 124, That is, Already before this loading Platform 124 Being rotated, Su Out of station 122d, Enter station 122a. Station 1 From 22b, The platform 124 rotates, In station 122c enter. It is shown in FIG.   As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, In the tool machine assembly 144, Plastic Form 124 Lifted from its support 172, Top of assembly 144 It is held between the chamber 147 and the lower chamber 149. The exact alignment is Achieved by manipulating pin 178, Pin 178 is Inside the platform 124 Engages with the mating hole 182. A tapered portion formed on the pin 178, What is hole 182? Working together, Platform 124 Desire in the station I will guide you inside the section. In this way Tray 155 For tool machine assembly Be positioned accurately.   Platform 124 Once in the right position, Then Upper J In the chamber 147, A vacuum is created by the gas exchange passage 232. this is, The upper chamber 147 is sealed by the O-ring seal 184 with the film 192. Because it matches It is possible. Vacuum suction is started in the upper chamber 147 When, Via the vacuum tube 239 in the lower chamber 149, A vacuum is created by suction Be done. this is, The lower chamber 149 is connected to the upper chamber by the O-ring seal 184. Since the platform 124 is sealingly engaged with 147, It will be possible.   as a result, Good liquid communication with the outside of the tray 155 Under the film 192 Is achieved. The reason is, The vacuum in the upper chamber 147 Film 192 Lifting, This allows The air To be ejected from the tray 155, This sky Qi discharge Formed in slot 250 in the bottom of platform recess 212 Is done through a series of holes, Furthermore, This is done through the opening 230. filling By filling the agent 234, This process Can be done more quickly Become.   When a vacuum is created by suction, The desired atmosphere creates openings 257 and 23 in the tray. Pumped from the gas line 237 via 6. This atmosphere is Advantageously, Pack To extend the life of caged foods, Oxygen content is reduced.   As shown in FIG. The film 192 is With the sealer 186 The tray 155 is heat-sealed. This operation is Even with conventional heat seal operation Good. The sealer 186 In response to changing liquid in chamber 203, Strike It is repeatedly controlled downward by the control of the top 202.   The film 192 When it is sealed on the tray 155, The film 192 is Cutter -188 to disconnect. The cutter 188 is Repeatedly move downward, the film Cut 192, During its downward movement, The cutter 188 is Eventually, Recess 21 Reach inside 2. The movement of the cutter 188 is The fluid pressure in chamber 217 More controlled. In this way The desired atmosphere Enclosed in the package It of course, Other gas exchange techniques can also be used.   Advantageously, The atmosphere in assembly 144 is To extend the life of food, Oxygen content Is reduced.   The operation of the cutter 188 is Being adversely affected by ambient heat in assembly 144 However, This ambient heat is greatly increased by the heat sealing operation. This heat , Distorting the cutting blade, Reduce the accuracy of the cutting blade. For this reason, For example Coolant such as water So that the cutter 188 is cooled It is circulated to the circulation path 218. .   When this operation is completed, The upper chamber 147 and the lower portion 148 are Away from each other Be moved to Rolls 196 and 194 are advanced. This allows new The film section is Positioned in proper position between chambers 147 and 149 It Then Tray 155 Being advanced, Arriving at the next station 126d Reach   As shown in FIG. In the station 122d, Tray 155 Is Positioned on tray pusher 228 and cylinder 230, mounted on them It has been decided. At the right time, One or more trays 155 Cylinder 230 And the pusher 228 is operated to push it upward. this is, Shown in Figure 17 There is. Then Tray Lateral by slide 232 and its cylinder 234 Pushed in the direction. this is, It is shown in FIG. Then Tray Rotation controller Unloaded from the bay by a unloading conveyor 226.   The whole of such operation is Facilitated by the rotational arrangement of station 122 . The operation of the conveyor is Since the conveyor is configured in a rotating arrangement, Be continuous . In this way At the end of the linear conveyor, Platform 124 in its original position Problem that arises from having to return to To be removed.   Furthermore, By the rotation arrangement, The central area is Properly placed surge tank 13 It can be occupied by 8. This tank is Surrounding carousel equipment To provide a fluid pressure source for various operations within. The tank 138 is Normal, Both ends It is closed by a cap 254 attached to the. Shown in FIG. Like A discharge pipe 252 is provided on the bottom surface of the surge tank 138, this The discharge pipe 252 is Used to drain the disinfectant solution. The discharge pipe is Removable The cover 256 can be closed. Inside the tank 138, Bacteriostasis Washed with liquid, This allows Minimize transfer of bacteria to the package . The tank 138 is A support for supporting the drive mechanism 132 and the rotatable ring 130. Also functions as a port.   Furthermore, Since the conveyor is arranged in rotation, From other parts of the machine To remove Easy access to any particular station. Any particular station For any particular operation, More appropriate station Can be easily exchanged. The device that failed Can be easily replaced with a normal device . Due to the rotating arrangement, Easy access to individual stations for repair Is.   Repair and replacement is To station for rapid desorption power and liquid sources It is facilitated by providing various connections of. Furthermore, Each of the quick desorption method By providing the station with mounting means for mounting a specific device, Stacey It is possible to quickly replace the By the way, Use this machine for another purpose Can be modified to It is possible to quickly replace a damaged part in the device.   The packaging process for packaging large meat food A Shown in Figure 20 There is. This packaging process Step a, with b and c. Step In a, Food A is As shown, Of the plate-shaped plastic package portion 310 Housed inside, The package portion 310 is A peripheral flap attached to the member 314. It is supported by the lunge 312.   The package portion 310 is Can be formed from various conventional materials, These materials are , For example, It is a known plastic package material or the like. In many cases, Lower pad The cage part 310, To be relatively rigid, Formed by molded foam plastic It is desirable to do.   In FIG. 20, In step b, The upper package portion 318 is As shown To Between the lower package portion 310, which is placed over the food A over it They are placed apart. The package portion 318 is Formed in a dome shape, Lap It has a side flange 320. Like the package part 310, Upper package part Minute 318 It can be formed of various conventional plastic materials. But, many In use, The upper package portion 318, Relatively rigid molded transparent plastic material It is desirable to form by. because, This allows In the food package This is because the food A can be visually observed. Advantageously, Parts 310 and 318 are both Anyway, Preformed with a relatively rigid molded plastic material.   As shown in FIG. In step c, Upper package part and lower Part package portions 318 and 310 are Their peripheral flanges 320 and 3 Joined by device 322 along 12 The device 322 is Flange of part 318 Press 320 down, Press on the flange 312 of the package part 310 Put on. If you want The device 322 is Is a heat sealing machine, This heat sea Le Machine Heat seal the adjacent flanges, These two parts are joined To be done.   Holds the upper domed portion 318 spaced apart and adjacent to the lower portion 310 The advantage is The gas environment inside the package Conversion before sealing step C in FIG. 20 There is something you can do. For example, The air in the package Once discharged, Desired moth Can be replenished. The desired gas is To extend the shelf life of food, Compare oxygen content Can be made smaller. For example, Of this carbon dioxide and / or nitrogen Increase the content compared to normal air, Oxidation process that shortens the life of meat product A Can be weakened.   As shown in FIG. 21, The lower package portion 310 is 1 pair of 2 pairs The guides 324 located opposite each other can maintain the desired arrangement. Each The guide 324 Substantially tangent to the curved side surface of the lower package portion 310 Placed, This allows Each guide 324 Abut the seal area 326 It The seal area 326 is It provides a point of attachment to the upper package portion 318. First From Figure 21, The lower package portion 310 has a flange portion 328 extending outwardly. Have, This flange portion 328 is located on two opposite sides of the package 310. It can be seen that it is attached to any one of the ends. Fig. 21 The package 310 shown in It has an oval shape. But, Disconnection of package The surface is It can have one of a variety of different shapes.   Figure 22 shows It is placed on the lower package portion 310 so as to cover it and be positioned. The upper package portion 318 being shown is shown. The upper package portion 318 is A pair of flanges 334 facing each other and having blunt tips, Flange 334 Is Interact with each set of guides 324, Furthermore, The flange 334 is That Confined between each set of guides 324. Flange portion 3 extending outward 34 is Extending along tube 330, that time, Tube 330 The upper pad in a horizontal plane The positioning of the package portion 318 is not normally guided. This guide is In effect, Moth Performed at Id 324. In area 336, The flange 334 is Flange 3 Extending through 28 edges 332, This allows The flange 334 is Lower part It has a flared region that extends beyond the package portion 310.   Figure 23 shows 20 shows a packaging machine for performing the packaging operation of FIG. Various To show that the package shape can be used, The package 338 of FIG. 23 is , It has a slightly different shape than the package of FIG. Above all, Lower package The portion 310 is Located lower than the package portion 310 of FIG. 20, beneath The steepness of the corners of the package portion and upper package portions 318 and 320 Saha It is larger than the embodiment shown in FIG.   The lower package portion 310 is Placed in the perimeter mating tray 340, To The Ray 340 Conforms to the external shape of the lower package portion 310, Flange 312 Support. The flange portion 336 of the upper package portion 318 is Filling pipe 330 Is placed on.   The filling pipe 330 is Move up and down in slot 342. But, Above it The length is It is controlled by the flared edge 344 of the adjacent guide 324. So Each tube 330 Has an outer cylinder 330a and an inner cylinder 330b It   The outer cylinder 330a is With a set of O-rings 346, The O-ring 346 is Prevents leakage around tube 330. Pin 348 is Stroke length of downward movement of tube 330 Control. In the center of tube 330, Holes 350 are formed, In the package To the department Or it makes it possible to carry gas from inside the package, To passage 352 Alternatively, it can be transported from the passage 352. In this way Gas is Communication Via path 352 Can flow into the package shown in the configuration of FIG. vice versa , Can be leaked from the package.   The compressed gas supply passage 372 is It is connected to a source of compressed gas (not shown). Want Then, The compressed gas is Communicated through passage 372, This allows The compressed gas is It becomes possible to act on the lower end of the outer cylinder 330a. This makes the tube 330 Is It can be moved to its upper position in FIG.   Over and adjacent to the upper package portion 318, Pusher bar 354 and seal bar 356 It is arranged. The seal bar 356 is Conventional It may be a heat seal bar. This heat seal bar is Upper package The flange of the part 318 Sealed to the flange of the lower package portion 310.   The vacuum chamber cover 390 is In the lower chamber 392, Inner perimeter seal and Sealed by outer perimeter seals 394 and 296. To make this seal, The gasket 398 abuts the lower chamber 392. The valved passage 400 is Mosquito To create a vacuum in the chamber bounded by bar 390 It is provided in.   In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 25, Gasket replacement system Upper package part It is mounted and provided on the 318. The gas exchange portion 358 is Normal, The above Is formed. The gas exchange portion 358 is Having one or more holes 360, Hole 360 is Formed within the package portion 318. These holes 360 Covered by a first circular plastic film layer 362, The film layer 362 is , It may be air permeable. Layer 362 is 364 on the package part 318 It is sealed. Sealed to this on layer 362, Liquid impermeable plus on top A tic film 366 is provided, The film 366 is Upper package at 368 Sealed to portion 318. If you want Layer 366 is Peeled off, This , Gas exchange Permeation through the lower layer 362 is possible via holes 360.   The method and apparatus of the present invention comprises: It is also possible to carry out as follows. Lower pad The cage portion 310 is Loaded into the perimeter mating tray 340, This allows beneath The package portion 310 is It is supported by the flanges 312 of the tray 340. versus so, Meat product A is If not already loaded, Stacked in the package part 310 Get caught. Then A relatively rigid head or top 318 Lower package part 3 Placed on top of 10 and aligned, But, Mounted on top of fill tube 330 Placed. this is, It is shown in FIG.   First of all, The air in the package is Passage 400, Communicate with passage 352 It is discharged through both the holes 350. Then Through 400 is closed, Desired moth The environment is Flowing through the passage 352 and the hole 350, It flows into the package. This gas environment is To extend the life of meat products, Relatively low oxygen concentration, Carbon dioxide The elemental content and / or the nitrogen content can be high (relative to the ambient air). Wear. The reason is, The presence of oxygen To aging and fading meat products.   The desired environment is Once formed, The gas filling pipe 330 By pusher bar 354 Is pushed downwards, Enter into those passages 342. This insert Pin 348 The process ends when the upper surface of the slot 380 is engaged. This position shown in FIG. 24 so, The upper package portion 318 is It abuts the lower package portion 310. at this point, The seal area 326 also abuts. Then The package is Sealed along regions 326 of upper and lower portions 310 and 318, This By this, There is a tight seal between the two parts of the package. this is, Seal bar 35 Achieved by 6 With the seal bar 356, In one advantageous embodiment, Configuration required The elements can be joined by heat sealing. The seal bar 356 is Pup Reciprocates with Shaver 354. But, The pusher bar 354 is Tube 33 Press 0, To reach a position below the flange, This allows Package thickness Irrespective of It is guaranteed that the tube 330 does not interfere with the cylinder process.   The finished package 338 is Cover 390 with seal bar 356 and pusher Removed by lifting with bar 354. Package 338 is Margin Removed from the carrier 340. this is, Batch-wise or continuously as desired Done.   This cycle is The gas pipes 330 reach their upper position by reciprocating motion When, It can be repeated. this is, Supply air pressure to upper cylinder 330a It is achieved by Air pressure is The pipe 330 is lowered by the pusher bar 354. When pushed to, It is released by a relief valve (not shown).   Pair the upper and lower package portions 310 and 318 with each other. Then position By providing the guide 324 and the filling pipe 330 Guaranteed. That is, The guide 324 and the filling pipe 330 are Special package Interact with shapes, This allows Upper package part 310 and lower package part Precise adjacent alignment with minute 318 Guaranteed. Furthermore, Upper package part 3 The flange portion 336 of 18 is When the flange portion 336 comes into contact with the filling pipe 330, If Maintain package separation.   First of all, The lower package portion 310 By tube 330 and guide 324 Guided, Inserted into the perimeter mating carrier 340. Then Upper package The portion 318 is positioned by the guide 324 and placed on the tube 330. . Then The cover 390 is closed, Then You can repeat this process It   For many uses, Above all, For use with red meat, Low oxygen content at the time of sale It is desirable to exhaust the atmosphere. Otherwise, Has an environment with low oxygen content Depending on the package The meat turns purple. In this way supermarket Then Peel off the fluid impermeable film 36 on top. This allows The surrounding atmosphere Flowing into the package, The meat blushes.   Providing an overhang 336 on the upper package portion 318, This overhang 336 By overhanging on the lower package portion 310, In use, Dome shape Facilitates removal of the upper package portion 318 of the. Furthermore, Overhang 336 is hidden Because it is placed and The chance of accidental opening is reduced.   In this way According to the invention, The goals mentioned above, Task, And satisfy the benefits Package, Method, And it is clear that a packaging device is provided. The present invention Is Although described in connection with some specific embodiments of the invention, Many alternatives, Strange Change And the transformation It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art based on the above description, Ming It is white. Therefore, All such implementations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Example, Alternative, Change, And the transformation is It shall be included in the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (31) Priority claim number 08 / 154,756 (32) Priority date November 18, 1993 (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (31) Priority claim number 08 / 221,194 (32) Priority date March 31, 1994 (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, M C, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG , CI, CM, GA, GN, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AT, AU, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, G B, HU, JP, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LK, LU , LV, MD, MG, MN, MW, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SI, SK, T J, TT, UA, US, UZ, VN (72) Inventor McPherson, Robert Ef             29925-4100 South United States             Carolina, Hilton Head Isla             Nand, Beach City Road 86

Claims (1)

[Claims]   1. A reciprocating device, the reciprocating device having a molded upper part Moves the package part to a position spaced from the molded lower package part And enables gas exchange at one position of the reciprocating device,       The reciprocable device is such that the upper package portion is the lower package. Reciprocating motion to reach the second position so that it abuts against the Exchange packaging equipment.   2. The upper package portion and the lower package portion are heat-sealed. The gas seal according to claim 1, further comprising a heat seal member for re-bonding. Exchange packaging equipment.   3. The reciprocable device has one hole and one opening, and the opening is , Is formed at the upper end of the hole to allow gas communication between the inside and outside of the package part. The gas exchange packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the gas exchange packaging device is functional.   4. The gas according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of reciprocable devices. Exchange packaging equipment.   5. Guide the upper package part to the desired position with respect to the lower package part 2. The gas exchange pack according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guide portions for Packaging device.   6. The guide portion also controls the stroke length of the upward movement of the reciprocating device. The gas exchange packaging device according to claim 5, wherein the gas exchange packaging device is controlled.   7. The guide part is arranged so as to tangentially contact the upper package part. The gas exchange packaging device according to claim 6, wherein   8. So that the reciprocable device reaches its upper position by fluid pressure. 2. The gas exchange packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the gas exchange packaging device is operable. .   9. A bar that pushes the reciprocable device to reach the second position. The gas exchange packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:   10. A package sealing device that is reciprocated by the bar. The gas exchange packaging device according to claim 9, wherein the gas exchange packaging device is a gas exchange packaging device.   11. The bar pushes the reciprocable device to reach the second position, The second position is lower than the lower package part. Located at a distance from the reciprocating device to seal the package. The gas exchange pad according to claim 10, characterized in that it is possible not to disturb the operation. Caging device.   12. The molded lower package part, the molded lower package part Positioning in a device capable of supporting the     Space the upper package portion over the lower package portion. The molded upper package on the upper surface of the reciprocating device which maintains the original position. The step of placing the part     The gas in the package is passed through the opening formed by the reciprocating device. Exchange with the desired atmosphere through     The upper package portion rests on the lower package portion and rests on it. So that the reciprocating device can be moved to a second position by a downward stroke. With steps to move to A gas exchange packaging method comprising:   13. Align the upper package portion and the lower package portion at the second position. 13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of joining with a heat seal. Gas exchange packaging methods listed.   14. Guide the upper package part to align with the lower package part. 13. The gas exchange package according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: Easing method.   15. Simultaneously pushing the reciprocating device downward, the upper package part And the lower package portion are brought into contact with each other, and the upper package portion is sealed. 13. The gas exchange according to claim 12, further comprising the step of contacting the apparatus. Replacement packaging method.   16. Push the reciprocating device to place it below the lower package part. 13. The gas exchange packaging method according to claim 12, wherein the gas exchange packaging is carried out. .   17． Move the upper package part away from the lower package part. The method further comprises the step of aspirating a vacuum to form the desired gas environment. Between the package parts, the step of feeding through a reciprocating device is further provided. The gas exchange packaging method according to claim 12, further comprising:   18. A guide member is used to guide the upper package portion to an appropriate position. The step and the guide member are used to control the upward movement of the reciprocable device. The gas exchange pad according to claim 12, further comprising a control step. Caging method.   19. A device capable of reciprocating by applying gas pressure to the device capable of reciprocating. The step of returning the to its raised position. 13. The gas exchange packaging method according to 12.   20. A substantially rigid domed package portion on the top,     The dome-shaped package part has a pair of upper flanges facing each other. And the upper flange is spaced from the rest of the dome-shaped package portion. Extending like this,     A dish-shaped package part, which is located opposite to each other and has a dish-shaped package. Flange extending outwards away from the rest of the cage A lower substantially rigid dish-shaped package portion having a Equipped with,     The upper flange extends outwardly through the lower flange,     Each of the package parts is sealed and joined to the other package part. A gas exchangeable package, characterized in that it has a sealing area for the purpose.   21. Gas is selectively released to one of the package parts. An opening for opening a gas permeable plug located in the package portion. Coated with a plastic sheet, the gas permeable plastic sheet is removed Characterized by being further covered by a possible gas impermeable plastic sheet 21. The gas replaceable package according to claim 20.   22. The upper flange and the lower flange have their outermost extensions 21. Gas according to claim 20, characterized in that it is aligned along the plane and overlaps. Interchangeable package.   23. The upper flange is substantially the outermost of them on the lower flange. The side surface is overlapped along only one side of the extending surface. 22. A gas exchangeable package according to item 22.   24. The upper flange overlaps only part of the entire length of the lower flange. However, the overlapping area of each of the flanges is protected against accidental engagement. The gas exchangeable package according to claim 20, wherein the package is a gas exchangeable package.   25. The upper flange and the lower flange are in the outermost extending surface. Substantially aligned at those points, between the upper flange and the lower flange The overlap is done at a point in the outermost extension surface on one side of the upper flange. 25. The gas replaceable package according to claim 24, wherein:   26. A plurality of stations including at least one station for loading food into trays A packaging station,     Move the tray from one station to the next and A carousel having a platform for carrying the lay,     One of the packaging stations loads the tray with the platter. Placed on top of the tray and another one of the stations It is designed to be shipped from the platform,     Before coating the tray with a film, the ambient atmosphere in the tray is , A device for exchanging with an atmosphere with a low oxygen content An apparatus for manufacturing a modified atmosphere package, comprising:   27. The platform is removably mounted on the conveyor. 27. The modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to claim 26.   28. A mechanism for enclosing a platform in a substantially gas-tight closed enclosure The mechanism includes removing the atmospheric gas, sealing the package, 27. The device of claim 26, further comprising a device for separating the package from the package. Equipment for manufacturing modified atmosphere packages.   29. The closed enclosure includes a pair of open chambers, of which At least one movable towards the other and at least one substantially airtight 29. The modified atmosphere package of claim 28, wherein a different chamber is formed. Ji manufacturing equipment.   30. A pair of substantially airtight chambers located opposite each other is defined. At least one of the chambers is used to coat the tray. 30. The modified atmosphere package according to claim 29, which is sealed to a film. Ji manufacturing equipment.   31. Has a mechanism to automatically align the platform with the station 27. The modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to claim 26.   32. The alignment mechanism has a pair of pins mounted on the station, The pin will automatically align the platform with the station. And interacting with an opening in the platform. 21. A modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to 21.   33. The pin fits into a taper in the opening in the platform. 33. A modified atmosphere package as claimed in claim 32 having a tapered upper portion that is bent over. Manufacturing equipment.   34. The platform is removably mounted and mounted on the conveyor 34. Apparatus for manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 33, wherein .   35. The gas supply connection and the vacuum supply connection are formed by quick disconnect connections. 27. The modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to claim 26.   36. A gas supply valve is attached directly to the alignment mechanism to provide quick gas supply 29. A reaction time and a small gas consumption are realized. Equipment for manufacturing modified atmosphere packages.   37. A vacuum supply valve is attached directly to the alignment mechanism to eject the tool 29. A rapid vacuum feed reaction time for Equipment for manufacturing modified atmosphere packages.   38. One of the stations separates the film from the continuous web And means for sealing the film to the tray by heat sealing. 27. The apparatus for manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 26.   39. The heat sealing means are capable of reciprocating reciprocally with respect to each other. 39. The modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to claim 38.   40. 40. The dividing means has an internal cooling passage. Equipment for manufacturing modified atmosphere packages.   41. Characterized in that the station is arranged around a tubular support The apparatus for manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 26.   42. Both ends of the tubular support so that it can be used as a surge tank Is capped and the surge tank is used for various operations at the station. 42. A modified atmosphere package according to claim 41, characterized in that a gas for Ji manufacturing equipment.   43. The tubular support is used to disinfect the interior of the surge tank. It has a discharge pipe to discharge the disinfectant solution that is used to exchange gas in the atmosphere inside the package. Characterized by minimizing the number of bacteria that enter the package during Item 42. The modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to Item 42.   44. A drive unit for driving a carousel mounted on the tubular support. 42. The apparatus for manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 41, further comprising: Place.   45. The center of the machine is a support structure supporting the carousel, 27. The modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to claim 26.   46. The carousel provides a gas supply for various operations at the station. 27. Arranged around a surge tank for supplying water. Equipment for manufacturing modified atmosphere packages.   47. Equipped with a support, the station being removably connected to the support 27. The modified atmosphere package manufacturing apparatus according to claim 26.   48. Placing multiple trays on a carousel,     Positioning the tray between stations arranged in a circular path The step of matching,     Discharging the atmosphere from the tray containing the food,     In order to maintain an atmosphere with a low oxygen content in the tray, Coating the film with a film,     Unloading the tray from the carousel; The method for manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 26, comprising:   49. When the tray reaches the station, the tray is accurately moved to the station. 49. The reforming of claim 48, further comprising the step of aligning Atmosphere package manufacturing method.   50. The package is transported on the platform and the modified atmosphere The package manufacturing method is such that when the platform reaches the station, Removing the platform from the conveyor, and removing the platform. The film to the tray as the step of aligning the film with the station. And then severing the film. 50. The method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 49.   51. The alignment step provides for mating with the openings in the platform. The platform removing from the conveyor; Guiding the platform so that it is aligned with the 49. The method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 48.   52. Separating the film from the film roll, and then Heat-sealing the rum to the tray. The cage manufacturing method further includes the step of supplying the internal cooling liquid to the film cutting mechanism. 49. The method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 48, comprising:   53. Place the trays in one station on the carousel. A closed enclosure in a dense environment, and a gas environment in a closed enclosure. And a step of supplying a desired gas environment into the enclosed enclosure. The tray and the film to maintain the desired gas environment in the package. 49. The modified atmosphere of claim 48, further comprising the step of: Package manufacturing method.   54. Placing the tray on the carousel can push the tray, The step of placing it on the support in the conveyor, and then the support Lowering to engage the tray with the conveyor platform 49. The modified atmosphere package according to claim 48, which is realized by Production method.   55. Placing the film over a tray over it, and at least Delimiting one substantially gas-tight chamber, above the film Creates a vacuum in the space of the tray, which lifts the film from the tray. Removing the atmosphere from the tray, and then Providing a desired atmosphere into the tray. A method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package according to claim 48.   56. A step of sealing the film to the tray in a substantially gas tight chamber. And the sealing step directs the seal bar toward the film and Reciprocating away from the film and the outer surface of the chamber The seal bar is removed from the chamber by screwing a fixing member. 56. The modified atmosphere package according to claim 55, further comprising a step of removing. Package manufacturing method.   57. With a tray     A flexible first membrane sealed to the tray,     A flexible second membrane covering the first membrane and sealed to the tray; Including,     The first film and the second film are attached to positions on the surface of the tray that are separated from each other. And the first film and the second film are substantially in the same plane as each other, and The second film can be removed from the tray independently of the first film. package.   58. A tray has a perimeter having a protrusion and a recessed lip surrounding the protrusion. A side flange is provided, and the first film and the second film are fixed to each. 58. The package of claim 57, wherein:   59. The tray has a pair of sealing protrusions located in substantially the same plane. And a sealing projection that securely fixes the first film and the second film. 58. The package according to claim 57, which is used to:   60. The second film has a gas permeability smaller than that of the first film. 58. The method of claim 57.   61. The contract wherein the first film and the second film are made of an elastic material. The package according to claim 57.   62. The first membrane and the second membrane are made of a substantially impermeable material. 58. The package according to claim 57, wherein.   63. The tray is made of foam material and the protrusions are pre-formed to a substantially uniform thickness. 58. The package of claim 57, which is packaged.   64. The first film and the second film are joined only by a tray. 58. The package according to claim 57, wherein.   65. A pair of sealing surfaces for accommodating the first film and the second film, Is formed between the one sealing surface and the other sealing surface, and the package During the manufacture of the, the first membrane is separated from the web at an appropriate point in the 58. The package of claim 57, which is turned off.   66. The second film can be peeled off from the tray. Package as described in 7.