EP0399981B1 - Method for closing a package - Google Patents
Method for closing a package Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0399981B1 EP0399981B1 EP90850205A EP90850205A EP0399981B1 EP 0399981 B1 EP0399981 B1 EP 0399981B1 EP 90850205 A EP90850205 A EP 90850205A EP 90850205 A EP90850205 A EP 90850205A EP 0399981 B1 EP0399981 B1 EP 0399981B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tray
- lid
- plastic film
- package
- film
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
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
- 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
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
- B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
- B65B7/168—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying and securing double closures
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for sealing a package.
- the package comprises a tray and a lid, which tray is made of plastics material and is especially intended for keeping ready-cooked food and heating of same in a microwave oven, and which is made of cardboard and/or plastics material.
- a package fulfilling these requirements comprises an aluminium tray with a card-board and/or aluminium lid which is attached to the tray by folding the edges surrounding the opening of the tray inwardly over the lid, and which can be removed therefrom after said edges have been folded away from the lid.
- Disadvantages of this package are that sealing is carried out manually, that the food cannot be heated inside the package in a microwave oven and that the sealing will not be liquidproof.
- a package in which the food can be heated in a microwave oven and which can be sealed mechanically comprises a tray of plastics material such as CPET and a lid made of plastic-coated cardboard, which lid can be welded (heat-sealed) to the edges of the tray opening.
- CPET plastics material
- lid made of plastic-coated cardboard, which lid can be welded (heat-sealed) to the edges of the tray opening.
- a disadvantage of this kind of package is that the lid is difficult to remove from the tray and often breaks when being removed.
- FR-A-1 379 891 discloses a tray and two superimposed thermoplastic lids which are connected to the tray in two separate operations with the connection lines between the tray and the lids at a distance from each other.
- CH-A-475 883 discloses a polypropylene tray and a lid comprising a polypropylene sheet covered by an ethylene layer. The layer is welded to the tray so that the lid can be easily removed from the tray.
- the one figure of the drawing is a schematic, exploded perspective view showing sealing of a package according to the invention.
- the package according to the invention comprises a tray 1 of thermoformed CPET with an opening surrounded by a folded, approximately 5 mm wide edge which extends round the whole of the tray 1, a lid 2 of cardboard and plastics material, suitably a material marketed under the name of Invercote (registered trademark) G + AP (ethylene acrylic acid), and a film or sheeting 3 of polyester, suitably a film marketed under the name of Mylar (registered trademark) OL.
- the materials of the tray 1, lid 2 and film 3 are heat-sealable to each other, however, if the lid were to be heat-sealed (welded) straight onto the tray, it would not be possible to remove it from the tray without it being destroyed (torn).
- the figure shows the package being sealed.
- the tray 1 After the tray 1 has been filled with ready-cooked food, it is placed on a support 4 provided with a rubber plate 5 with upwardly oriented edges 5a surrounding the base of the tray. This can be done manually or by means of a suitable feeding device.
- a roll 6, on which the film 3 is wound in the form of a band, is located over and adjacent the support 4.
- the width of the roll 6 and therefore of the film 3 corresponds to or is slightly wider than the length of the tray 1, i.e. the greatest distance between opposite parts of the edges 1a.
- the film 3 For each tray 1 placed on the plate 5, the film 3 is intended to be advanced immediately over or in contact with the tray in the direction of the arrow a distance which corresponds to or is slightly longer than the width of the tray, by a suitable device not shown in the figure.
- the lid 2 is placed, manually or by a device not shown, on top of the film 2 exactly over the tray 1.
- the area of the lid 2 is selected such that the lid will cover the tray opening and the entire edge 1a.
- a welding head 7 At a distance over the plate 5 slightly exceeding the height of the tray 1 there is arranged a welding head 7.
- the head 7 is provided with a lower plane surface, the area of which corresponds to the area of the lid 2.
- the head 7 is movable towards and away from the tray 1 with the film 3 and lid 2 thereon, and its temperature is such that heat-sealing or welding of the film to the tray and of the lid to the film will take place when the head is briefly pressed against these.
- a sleeve 8 with a heated, lipshaped lower edge 8a which sleeve surrounds the welding head 7 and is guided by same, is carried downwardly towards the tray 1, whereby the film 3 will melt immediately outside the lid 2 so that the parts of the film surrounding the lid will be separated from the now finished package, which will then be removed from the support 4 either manually or by some suitable feeding-out device.
- a package the contents of which can be heated in a microwave oven (also with the lid attached), and the top side of which can be preprinted or provided with print or the like in connection with sealing and the lid of which can be removed by the so called peel-off effect, i.e. the film is easily removable from the tray without the lid getting torn or destroyed in some other way.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Package Closures (AREA)
- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
- Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a method for sealing a package. The package comprises a tray and a lid, which tray is made of plastics material and is especially intended for keeping ready-cooked food and heating of same in a microwave oven, and which is made of cardboard and/or plastics material.
- It is known to keep and to heat ready-cooked food in packages consisting of a tray provided with a lid. It is essential that the food should not be affected by the packaging material and that the lid should be easily removable from the tray.
- A package fulfilling these requirements comprises an aluminium tray with a card-board and/or aluminium lid which is attached to the tray by folding the edges surrounding the opening of the tray inwardly over the lid, and which can be removed therefrom after said edges have been folded away from the lid. Disadvantages of this package are that sealing is carried out manually, that the food cannot be heated inside the package in a microwave oven and that the sealing will not be liquidproof.
- A package in which the food can be heated in a microwave oven and which can be sealed mechanically comprises a tray of plastics material such as CPET and a lid made of plastic-coated cardboard, which lid can be welded (heat-sealed) to the edges of the tray opening. A disadvantage of this kind of package is that the lid is difficult to remove from the tray and often breaks when being removed.
- Further, it is known to weld a plastic film to a CPET tray. With this kind of package it is difficult to tear and to remove the film without touching the food. Moreover, it is not possible to provide the film with information in the form of, for example, advertising or a text stating the contents of the package, and packages of this kind are therefore often supplied in cardboard cases provided with such information.
- FR-A-1 379 891 discloses a tray and two superimposed thermoplastic lids which are connected to the tray in two separate operations with the connection lines between the tray and the lids at a distance from each other.
- CH-A-475 883 discloses a polypropylene tray and a lid comprising a polypropylene sheet covered by an ethylene layer. The layer is welded to the tray so that the lid can be easily removed from the tray.
- It is an object of the present invention to improve sealing of packages of the above-mentioned kind and to seal these in a simple, nonexpensive and efficient way.
- This object is accomplished by providing the package of the invention with the features stated in the characterizing portions of the claims.
- The one figure of the drawing is a schematic, exploded perspective view showing sealing of a package according to the invention.
- The package according to the invention comprises a tray 1 of thermoformed CPET with an opening surrounded by a folded, approximately 5 mm wide edge which extends round the whole of the tray 1, a lid 2 of cardboard and plastics material, suitably a material marketed under the name of Invercote (registered trademark) G + AP (ethylene acrylic acid), and a film or
sheeting 3 of polyester, suitably a film marketed under the name of Mylar (registered trademark) OL. - The materials of the tray 1, lid 2 and
film 3 are heat-sealable to each other, however, if the lid were to be heat-sealed (welded) straight onto the tray, it would not be possible to remove it from the tray without it being destroyed (torn). - The figure shows the package being sealed.
- After the tray 1 has been filled with ready-cooked food, it is placed on a support 4 provided with a
rubber plate 5 with upwardly oriented edges 5a surrounding the base of the tray. This can be done manually or by means of a suitable feeding device. A roll 6, on which thefilm 3 is wound in the form of a band, is located over and adjacent the support 4. The width of the roll 6 and therefore of thefilm 3 corresponds to or is slightly wider than the length of the tray 1, i.e. the greatest distance between opposite parts of the edges 1a. For each tray 1 placed on theplate 5, thefilm 3 is intended to be advanced immediately over or in contact with the tray in the direction of the arrow a distance which corresponds to or is slightly longer than the width of the tray, by a suitable device not shown in the figure. - The lid 2 is placed, manually or by a device not shown, on top of the film 2 exactly over the tray 1. The area of the lid 2 is selected such that the lid will cover the tray opening and the entire edge 1a.
- At a distance over the
plate 5 slightly exceeding the height of the tray 1 there is arranged awelding head 7. Thehead 7 is provided with a lower plane surface, the area of which corresponds to the area of the lid 2. Thehead 7 is movable towards and away from the tray 1 with thefilm 3 and lid 2 thereon, and its temperature is such that heat-sealing or welding of the film to the tray and of the lid to the film will take place when the head is briefly pressed against these. - After or in connection with the above described heat-sealing a sleeve 8 with a heated, lipshaped lower edge 8a, which sleeve surrounds the
welding head 7 and is guided by same, is carried downwardly towards the tray 1, whereby thefilm 3 will melt immediately outside the lid 2 so that the parts of the film surrounding the lid will be separated from the now finished package, which will then be removed from the support 4 either manually or by some suitable feeding-out device. - Owing to the
film 3 being inserted between the lid 2 and the tray 1 and owing to the properties of the material of which they are made, there is provided a package the contents of which can be heated in a microwave oven (also with the lid attached), and the top side of which can be preprinted or provided with print or the like in connection with sealing and the lid of which can be removed by the so called peel-off effect, i.e. the film is easily removable from the tray without the lid getting torn or destroyed in some other way. - Although only one embodiment of the invention has been described above and shown on the drawing, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to said embodiment but only by the scope of the claims.
Claims (3)
- A method for sealing a package comprising a tray (1) and a lid (2), which tray is made of plastics material and is especially intended for keeping of ready-cooked food and heating of same in a microwave oven, and which lid is made of cardboard and/or plastics material, the method including that the tray with contents is placed on a support (4,5), that a plastic film (3), the area of which is larger than that of the tray opening, is placed over the tray opening, and that the lid, the area of which is larger than that of the tray opening, is placed on top of the plastic film, characterized in that the plastic film (3) is welded to the tray (1) and the lid (2) is welded to the plastic film in one and the same operation.
- A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the plastic film (3) is essentially larger than that of the lid (2) when the plastic film is placed over the tray and is given substantially the same length-width dimension as the lid in connection with its being welded to the tray (1).
- A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the plastic film (3) in the form of a band is advanced to a position over the tray (1) in which the plastic film is given substantially the same length-width dimension as the lid (2) through separation by means of heat.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
SE8901848 | 1989-05-24 | ||
SE8901848A SE464629B (en) | 1989-05-24 | 1989-05-24 | PROCEDURE FOR PACKAGING OF PACKAGING |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0399981A2 EP0399981A2 (en) | 1990-11-28 |
EP0399981A3 EP0399981A3 (en) | 1991-04-17 |
EP0399981B1 true EP0399981B1 (en) | 1993-12-01 |
Family
ID=20376038
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP90850205A Expired - Lifetime EP0399981B1 (en) | 1989-05-24 | 1990-05-23 | Method for closing a package |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0399981B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69004859D1 (en) |
FI (1) | FI902571A0 (en) |
NO (1) | NO902278L (en) |
SE (1) | SE464629B (en) |
Families Citing this family (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE9003353L (en) * | 1990-10-19 | 1992-04-20 | Cerbo Ab | PACKAGING AND PROCEDURES BEFORE ITS CLOSING |
SE504159C2 (en) * | 1992-04-02 | 1996-11-25 | Tony Noren | Method for closing a trough with a lid that has a window opening |
US5888599A (en) * | 1993-04-19 | 1999-03-30 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Multi-layer lidding film having improved heat seal properties and methods relating thereto |
US5484984A (en) * | 1994-03-04 | 1996-01-16 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Ovenable food package including a base with depending leg member and a plurality of raised portions and associated food packages |
US5492703A (en) * | 1994-08-30 | 1996-02-20 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Food package including a food package tray partially surrounded by a food package jacket and an associated method |
WO1996015049A1 (en) * | 1994-08-03 | 1996-05-23 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Food product container |
AU3272195A (en) * | 1994-08-03 | 1996-03-04 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Ovenable food package |
WO1996014982A1 (en) * | 1994-08-30 | 1996-05-23 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Method of making a food package and an associated apparatus |
US5565228A (en) * | 1995-05-02 | 1996-10-15 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Ovenable food product tray and an ovenable food product package |
US5709308A (en) * | 1995-06-06 | 1998-01-20 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Food product container including a tray and a jacket and an associated food product package |
US5743402A (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 1998-04-28 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Food package including a tray and a sleeve |
US5900263A (en) * | 1997-06-26 | 1999-05-04 | Gics & Vermee, L.P. | Food package having a rigid leg member for displaying the front panel thereof |
AU772942B2 (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2004-05-13 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. | Heat seal apparatus for lens packages |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1379891A (en) * | 1963-12-09 | 1964-11-27 | Quaker Oats Co | Molded plastic sealed container, particularly for food products |
CH475883A (en) * | 1967-07-18 | 1969-07-31 | Tedeco Verpackung Gmbh | Packs, in particular for food, and processes for their manufacture |
CH503626A (en) * | 1970-08-06 | 1971-02-28 | Schneiter Riniker Kurt | Packaging containers, in particular for meat products |
FR2383833A1 (en) * | 1977-03-14 | 1978-10-13 | Erca | Moulded container sealing machine - has lid formed from thermoplastic web for sealing on container using heated tool |
AT359908B (en) * | 1978-06-08 | 1980-12-10 | Vmw Ranshofen Berndorf Ag | BEVERAGE PACKAGING FOR SILENT AND CARBONATED BEVERAGES |
GB2123786A (en) * | 1982-05-14 | 1984-02-08 | Bowater Packaging Ltd | Covered containers |
-
1989
- 1989-05-24 SE SE8901848A patent/SE464629B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1990
- 1990-05-23 FI FI902571A patent/FI902571A0/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-05-23 NO NO90902278A patent/NO902278L/en unknown
- 1990-05-23 EP EP90850205A patent/EP0399981B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-05-23 DE DE90850205T patent/DE69004859D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO902278L (en) | 1990-11-26 |
SE464629B (en) | 1991-05-27 |
NO902278D0 (en) | 1990-05-23 |
SE8901848L (en) | 1990-11-25 |
FI902571A0 (en) | 1990-05-23 |
EP0399981A3 (en) | 1991-04-17 |
SE8901848D0 (en) | 1989-05-24 |
DE69004859D1 (en) | 1994-01-13 |
EP0399981A2 (en) | 1990-11-28 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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EN | Fr: translation not filed | ||
NLV1 | Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act | ||
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
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26N | No opposition filed | ||
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
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