Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Method of separately p,:~Lckagirrg differerit kinds of food and
package therefore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the invention
The invention relates to a package comprising a
tray with various compartments in which different types of
food are present, with one type of food being present in
each compartment, which compartments are closed off by a
film structure that is fastened to the tray around the
openings of the compar~.rnents, with part of the film
structure beirig presen-~: above each compartment of the tray,
and at least a number of parts of the film st:ructure are
different from each othe:r. The term film structure can be
understood to mean eitnE=_r one si.ngle film or a combination
of various films on and,/or beside each other, as well as
film with a substance or a sticker on it.
Such packages are usually intended to allow
consumers to quickly a.:rid easily prepare their own meals.
Many or all of the necessary ingredients are present so that
2C the consumer himself x:.eed not buy all the ingredients
separately.
Prior art
Such a package is known from US 5,126,518. In this
known package some parts are provided with a layer of
microwave-reflective n-iaterial and other parts not to effect
a decreased flow of mic:rowave energy to the foodstuffs in
certain zones of the tray and an enhanced flow of microwave
energy to the foodstuf:fs in the remainder of the tray.
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Summary of the invention
An objective of the invention is to provide a
package comprising a tray with various compartments in which
different types of food are present, with one type of food
being present in each compartment, which compartments are
closed off by a film structure that is sealed to the tray
around the openings of the compartments, above each
compartment of the tray a part of the film structure being
present, and at least a number of these parts of the film
structure are different from each other, in which individual
circumstances can be created for the various types of food
and for preservation of the food in the different
compartments. To this end the package according to the
invention is characterized by the fact that these parts are
gas-permeable and/or that a material which reacts with gases
in the respective compartments is provided in and/or on the
film structure. This creates circumstances for the food in
the package that are adapted per type of food. For example
the space in a compartment of the package can be fully
sealed off from the outside environment by an gas-
impermeable part of the film structure, or indeed
interacting with the outside environment by way of a gas-
permeable part of the film structure. For example in at
least some of the parts of the film structure there can be
perforations.
Therefore, in one aspect of the invention, there
is provided a package comprising a tray with various
compartments in which different types of food are present,
with one type of food being present in each compartment,
which compartments are closed off by a film structure that
is sealed to the tray around the openings of the
compartments, above each compartment of the tray a part of
the film structure being present, and at least a number of
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these parts of the film structure are different from each
other, wherein these parts of film structure are gas-
permeable or wherein a material which reacts with gases in
the respective compartments is provided in or on some of
these parts of the film structure.
In another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a working method for separately packaging
various types of food in a single package, comprising:
placing food on a tray with different compartments open on
one side, with one type of food being placed in each
compartment, then placing a film structure above the open
sides of the compartments, whereby above each compartment a
part of the film structure is placed, at least the
characteristics of some of the specified parts of the film
structure are different from each other, followed by sealing
the film structure to the tray around the openings of the
compartments, wherein the film structure is processed such
that some of the parts of the film structure are
gas-permeable or are provided with a material in or on the
film structure which material reacts with gases in the
respective compartments.
In addition, the various characteristics can be
acquired because the film structure is comprised of various
films, for example a first film and a second film or a
sticker that is present on parts of the first film, or two
or more films beside each other with different
characteristics.
It is noted that from US-A-4,935,252 a food
package is known having a film structure comprising two
films of which one is applied on the other and can be
removed. This package contains only one compartment.
Furthermore the differentiation of the film structure only
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relates to characteristics for preparation of the food and
not for preservation.
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It is noted that from European patent
no. 0 293 794 B1 a worl=tii.ng method is kriown in which various
types of food are packaged in a sizzgle package. To improve
the shelf life of the rar.ious types of food, in the known
working method. the varLol.zs types of food are stored under
different atmospheric conditions. Some types of food are
preferably stored in a;ri. oxygen-low environment while others
instead are better stored in an atmosphere that is rich in
oxygen.
By utilizing a differentiated film structure
according to the prese:nt invention in which the closure of
each compartment can be coordinated with the type of food
present in the compart'ment and the condition of the food, an
optimal environment can be created for the food. In this way
even in a package where no separate gas atmospheres are
present in the compartments good cir=cumstances can
nonetheless be obtained for the food.
For example the material can be an active
substance which is placed in andJor on the parts of the film
structure. The substance might be a material that reacts
with the oxygE~n in the compartment and thus removes the
oxygen from the compartment and the food. This is desirable
for those types of food that can be stored best in a low-
oxygen atmosphere, for example f:or the protection of flavor
and aroma aga=_nst oxidation. Such substances are generally
known, for example films that contain iron powder. The iron
powder rusts and oxygen is withdrawn from the food and the
atmosphere iri the compartment. Instead of iron powder
ascorbic acid or sulpri.ite can asso be used as an active
substance. These substances, too, oxidize and oxygen is
withdrawn frorn the food. and the atmosphere in the
compartment. :In addition, enzymatic-acting substances can be
applied to the film, such as glucose oxidase or ethanol
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oxidase in which enzymes are catalysts for an oxygen-
consuming reaction.
The substance can also be a material, for example,
that absorbs oxygen, fr:)x- example a film of nylon polymer in
which cobalt is present for a cobalt-catalyzed oxidation of
the nylon polymer. Instead of, or in addition to, oxygen-
absorbing subEitances, the film or sticker can also contain
CO2 absorbing or emitt:i.ng substances, or ethylene absorbing
substances, ethanol emitting substances, moisture-absorbing
substances, et.c. All of these substances are generally
known.
The material can also be formed by applying a film
structure that: is activated upon radiation. By only
radiating a number of the parts of the film structure, a
film structure with var=,r:ing characteristics is created. The
material of the film structure should in this case be such
that its characteristics can be changed by radiation or
because certain substances in the materi.al of the film
structure can be activated by radiation. For example as a
result of radiation the material. can be activated such that
for example i.t: obtains the characteristic that it reacts to
oxygen and thus remove.s the oxygen.from the compartment.
Such a film i.s, known from European. patent application
EP-A 0 520 257. This k:nown film contains a combination of an
oxidizable organic com:pound and a metallic transference
catalyst. Here oxidation of the organic compound can be
initiated by radiation.. This known package consists of only
one compartment. Furthe:rmore in this known package the
entire film is irradiated, there is no differentiation of
the film. The manner of radiatirig is known from the
international patent a.pplication WO 99/21699. In this way
food can be packaged both in a low-oxygen environment and a
high-oxygen environment in a single package.
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The invention also relates to a working method for
separately packaging v<:irious types of food in a single
package, comprising: placing food on a tray with different
compartments cpen on one side, with one type of food being
5 placed in each compartment, then placing a film structure
above the open sides of the compartments, whereby above each
compartment a part of the film structure is placed, at least
the characteristics of some of the specified parts of the
film structure are different from each other, followed by
sealing the film structure to the tray around the openings
of the compartments.
As far as the working method is concerned the
invention is characterized in that the film structure is
processed such that some of the parts of the film structure
are gas permeable and/or are provided with a material in
and/or on the film structure which material reacts with
gases in the respective compartments.
Processing the film structure can comprise for
example placing perforations in at least a number of the
parts of the film structure, for example to allow the food
to breathe. The size of the perforations or the number of
perforations can be adjusted depending on the degree of
respiration of the food. A film with microperforations can
also be used.
The composition of the film structure can for
example take place by using first one film and then on parts
of that film placing a.,second film or sticker. The second
film or sticker can for example contain the above-mentioned
active substance or consist of one of the above-mentioned
materials that influerlce radiation. Or the first film can be
perforated and the second film or sticker can be gas
impermeable a:zd seal c:ff parts of the first film.
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The film structure can also be composed for
example by fastening two films to each other, after which
one of the films is locally removed. The one film can for
example be perforated and the other film can be a gas-
impermeable film that is placed in separate parts on the
perforated film. Parts of the gas-impermeable film can for
example be peeled off the perforated film.
Yet another 11.nethod of composing the film structure
can for example be to .E.Dlace two or more films with different
characteristics beside each other on the tray. For example
the various films can contain an active substance, be
perforated, be made of a radiation-influencing material, or
be gas imperm.eable. Possibly the films can first be
connected with each other before being placed on the tray.
The composition and/or processing of the film
structure preferably t.akes place before food is placed on
the tray. ThiEe decreases the chance that waste materials
that may occur du:ring the processing end up in the food.
Anot.her favorable embodiment of the working method
according to t.he invent.ion is characterized in that, before
the film structure is composed and/or processed, first the
characteristics of the food are determined, after which the
composition arid/or processing of the film structure takes
place accordirig to the characteristics of the food. Thus the
conditions under which the food is stored can be better
coordinated with the actual condition of the food. For
example, if the respirat:.ion of the food is high, it may be
desirable that. the space in the compartment be more
connected with the environment, such that a film structure
with high permeability is desirable.
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Brief description of the drawings
The invention will be elucidated more fully below
on the basis cf drawings in which ismbodiments of the working
method and the package according to the invention are shown.
In these drawings:
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the package
according to the invention iri a top view;
FigL.re 2 shows the illustration in Figure 1 as a
cross-section;
Figure 3 shows a diagram of a first embodiment. of
the working method according to the invention;
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Figure 4 shows a diagram of a second embodiment of the working method
according to the invention;
Figure 5 shows a first embodiment of the composition of the film structure;
and
Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the composition of the film
structure.
Detailed description of the drawings
In Figures 1 and 2 an embodiment of the package according to the invention
is shown in a top view respectively cross-section along line A-A. The package
1 is
comprised of a tray 3 that has various compartments 5, 7, and 9 that are open
on top. The
compartments are closed off by a film structure 11 that is fastened via
sealing seams 13 to
flanges 15 of the tray 3.
In the compartments 5, 7, 9 there are various types of food 17, 19. For each
type of food an optimal closure of the compartment is present, because the
film structure
I 1 is divided into various parts 21, 23, 25, that have different
characteristics and each close
off a compartment. For example part 21 and parts 23 and 25 form individual
films 27 en 29
that are fastened side by side on the tray. Films 27 and 29 are for example
transparent gas-
impermeable films. To obtain optimal conditions in the compartments, for
example, part 23
of the film 29 is provided with perforations 31 and another part 25 of the
film 29 has a non-
transparent sticker 33 that seals off the space in the compartment against
light.
To further improve the conditions under which the various types of food are
packaged, various preservative gases 35, 37 can be introduced into the
compartments.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the working method
according to the invention for packaging different types of food in a single
package. Here
in a separate production process 41 the film structure 43 is manufactured. In
this production
process 41 various films 45, 47 can be fastened on or on top of each other
and/or the film
structure can be processed. The fastening and/or the processing takes place in
a machine 49.
The film structure 43 is then brought into a further production process 51.
In this production process 51 trays 53 are filled with different types of food
55, 57. Then the
film structure 43 is brought above the open side of the tray 53. Then the film
structure 43
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is sealed on the tray 53 by melting the film structure 43 to the tray 53 with
a heated sealing
stamp 59.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the working method
according to the invention. Here the process of composing and/or processing
the film
structure is integrated into the process of filling the trays and the
fastening of the film
structure to the trays. After filling the compartments of the tray 53 with
different types of
food 55, 57 the condition of the food is measured. Depending on the conditions
the machine
49 is set. In this manner for example the number of perforations per surface
unit can be set.
Thus the package can be even better coordinated with regard to the type of
food being
packaged.
The film structure can be comprised in various ways. Figure 5 shows a first
embodiment of the composition of the film structure and placement on a tray.
Here the two
different films 61 and 63 form, side by side, the film structure 65, and each
film seals off one
or more compartments of the tray 67.
Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the composition of the film
structure. Here two different films 71 and 73 are fastened to each other and
form a film
structure. The film structure thus formed 75 possesses different parts 77 and
79 to seal off
different compartments of the trays 81.
Although the invention is explained above on the basis of drawings, it should
be stressed that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments shown
in the
drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the
embodiments
shown in the drawings within the context defined by the claims.
