Reclosable plastic packaging comprising two shells and method for producing said packaging
The invention relates to a packaging (1) consisting of a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastic film, the packaging including two shells (2, 3) which can be interconnected in a sealing plane (4) in a preferably reclosable manner, thus forming a hollow body. The sealing plane (4) is inclined in relation to the horizontal and extends into the region of the hollow body, essentially along the diagonal of the same. The invention also relates to a method for producing a packaging having an inclined sealing plane (4), and to a method for filing the packaging.
The present invention relates to packaging made from a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastics film with two half-shells, which may be joined together, preferably reclosably, in a heat-sealing plane and so form a hollow article and in which the heat-sealing plane is inclined relative to the horizontal, wherein, in the area of the hollow article, the heat-sealing plane extends substantially along the diagonal of the hollow article. The present application moreover relates to a process for the production of packaging with an inclined heat-sealing plane and the filling thereof.
Packaged goods, in particular foodstuffs, are today ever more frequently offered for sale to the consumer for consumption in plastics packaging. Often, however, such packaging exhibits the disadvantage that the packaged product cannot readily be taken out once the lidding film has been removed.
The object of the present invention is accordingly to provide packaging which does not exhibit the disadvantages of the prior art and which is straightforward to produce and fill.
This object is achieved according to the invention by the provision of packaging made from a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastics film with two half-shells, which may be joined together, preferably reclosably, in a heat-sealing plane and so form a hollow article and in which the heat-sealing plane is inclined relative to the horizontal, wherein, in the area of the hollow article, the heat-sealing plane extends substantially along the diagonal of the hollow article.
The packaging may have any desired cross-section, but is preferably round, rectangular or square.
In a preferred embodiment, the packaging according to the invention comprises between the first and the second half-shell at least one hinge with which the packaging may be opened and closed. The two half-shells and the hinge are preferably shaped from the same film. The person skilled in the art will recognise that the two half-shells and the hinge may also consist of in each case different films or that the two half-shells and the hinge may be constructed from different films. The hinge is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the highest point of the packaging.
In a preferred embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, both half-shells in each case comprise, on the longitudinal side thereof opposite the hinge, a tab arranged centrally on the heat-sealing surface. These two tabs make it easier for the user to open the packaging for the first time and, once it has first been opened, to open and close the two half-shells.
The packaging according to the invention may moreover be reclosable. To this end, flexible, sealing lips which are shaped complementarily to one another are preferably provided on the heat-sealing surface adjacent both half-shells, said sealing lips engaging in on another on application of mechanical pressure. Hook and loop fasteners of any desired shape or projections and recesses complementary thereto are likewise preferably provided for this purpose on the heat-sealing surfaces.
In one particularly preferred embodiment, the recesses take the form of an elongate hole and particularly preferably comprise scores in the peripheral zone.
The projections are preferably constructed such that they comprise embossed portions in the lower zone which additionally stiffen said zone.
The packaging according to the invention furthermore preferably comprises lateral guide ribs which are, for example, designed according to the tongue and groove principle. These guide ribs ensure that the lid sits better on the shell after reclosing. The guide ribs furthermore also perform a certain sealing function.
The half-shells furthermore preferably comprise stiffening ribs to simplify filling of the packaging and to improve protection for the packaged goods.
The packaging according to the invention is in particular suitable for packaging sliced sausage and/or cheese which has been cut into slices and stacked or chunks of sausage or cheese. The products to be packaged may be of any desired cross-section, but they are preferably round, triangular or rectangular.
The packaging according to the invention has the advantage that the contents located therein may easily be removed. The packaging is moreover simple and straightforward to produce and very easy to fill.
The present invention also provides a process for the production of packaging from a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastics film with two half-shells, which may be joined together, preferably reclosably, in a heat-sealing plane, wherein the heat-sealing plane is inclined relative to the horizontal and, during thermoforming, heat-sealing or cutting the machine plane corresponds to the heat-sealing plane of the half-shells.
The heat-sealing plane preferably extends along the hollow article which is formed by the two half-shells.
The half-shells are preferably thermoformed from a lower film and an upper film.
Once the packaging has been filled, the lower film and the upper film are furthermore preferably brought together in the heat-sealing plane and held together with holding down means before heat-sealing.
This process according to the invention permits particularly straightforward production of the packaging according to the invention.
The present invention also provides a process for filling with a product packaging made from a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastics film with two half-shells, which may be joined together, preferably reclosably, in a heat-sealing plane, wherein the heat-sealing plane is inclined relative to the horizontal and, during filling, the machine plane corresponds to the heat-sealing plane of the half-shells.
For the purposes of the invention, the product may be any product known to the person skilled in the art which is packaged. Preferably, however, the product is a foodstuff, in particular sausage or cheese, which may be in slices or as a chunk, i.e. in one piece.
During the filling operation, the product is preferably guided against at least parts of the wall of the lower half-shell and/or aligned therewith.
The product particularly preferably slides during filling along at least parts of the wall of the lower half-shell and is so guided and optionally aligned in such a manner that the fit of the wall of the lower half-shell with the introduced product is improved.
In a further preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, the product is pressed during filling against at least parts of the wall of a half-shell and is so guided and aligned in such a manner the fit of the wall of the lower half-shell with the introduced product is improved.
Likewise preferably, the product is pressed after filling against at least parts of the wall of the half-shell and is so aligned, such that any irregular stacking of the product in the half-shell is at least partially eliminated. This preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention is in particular suitable for at least partially frozen foodstuffs.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, prior to filling the half-shell, the product is gauged with gauging means in such a manner that it exhibits an at least virtually uniform cross-section. During the filling operation, the product is guided against at least parts of the wall a half-shell and/or optionally aligned therewith in such a manner that the fit of the wall of the lower half-shell with the introduced product is improved.
The filling process according to the invention has the advantage that it is particularly straightforward and cost-effective to carry out and that it makes it possible to package stacks of sliced foodstuffs in such a manner that the stack has a uniform cross-section in the packaging and it is accordingly straightforwardly possible to place the complementary lid onto the filled half-shell.
The invention is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 below. These explanations are given merely by way of example and do not restrict the general concept of the invention.
The person skilled in the art will recognise that the two half-shells may be manufactured, filled, optionally joined with one another and/or heat-sealed on a single machine. Because the heat-sealing plane 4 is congruent with the machine plane, these process steps are particularly straightforward to carry out. It is, however, also possible for the lower half-shell 3 to be placed as a tray in the packaging machine and merely filled in the packaging machine and closed and heat-sealed with an upper film preshaped as a half-shell 2.
Claims
1. Packaging (1) made from a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastics film with two half-shells (2, 3), which may be joined together, preferably reclosably, in a plane (4) and so form a hollow article (10) and in which the plane (4) is inclined relative to the horizontal and, in the area of the hollow article (10), extends substantially along the diagonal of the hollow article characterised in that it comprises a closure (6), which takes the form of a projection (31) with a recess (30) complementary thereto, wherein the recess takes the form of an elongate hole.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises between the first and the second half-shell (2, 3) at least one hinge (5), with which the packaging (1) may be opened and closed.
3. Packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the two half-shells (2, 3) in each case comprise a heat-sealing rim.
4. (canceled)
5. Packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the half-shells (2, 3) comprise stiffening ribs (11).
6. A process for producing the packaging for foodstuffs from a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastics film with two half-shells (2, 3), which may be joined together, preferably reclosably, in a heat-sealing plane (4), wherein the heat-sealing plane (4) is inclined relative to the package bottom (18), characterised in that, during thermoforming, heat-sealing and/or cutting of the packaging, the package bottom (18) is inclined relative to the machine plane.
7. A production process according to claim 6, characterised in that the half-shells (2, 3) are respectively thermoformed from a lower film (13) and an upper film (14).
8. A process according to claim 7, characterised in that the upper film (14) and the lower film (13) are brought together in the heat-sealing plane (4) and are held together with holding down means (15) before heat-sealing.
9. A process for filling with a foodstuff (9) packaging made from a thermally and/or mechanically deformable plastics film with two half-shells (2, 3), which may be joined together, preferably reclosably, in a heat-sealing plane (4), wherein the heat-sealing plane (4) is inclined relative to the package bottom (18), characterised in that, during filling of the packaging, the package bottom is arranged in inclined manner relative to the machine plane.
10. A process according to claim 9, characterised in that, during the filling operation, the product (9) is guided against at least parts of the wall (16) of a half-shell (3) and/or optionally aligned therewith.
11. A process according to claim 10, characterised in that, during filling, the product slides along at least parts of the wall (16) of a half-shell (3) and is so guided and optionally aligned.
12. A process according to claim 10, characterised in that, during filling, the product is pressed at least against parts of the wall (16) of a half-shell (3) and is so guided and optionally aligned.
13. A process according to claim 9, characterised in that, after filling, the product is pressed with means 21 against at least parts of the wall (16) of a half-shell (3) and is so aligned.
14. A process according to claim 9, characterised in that, before filling, the product (9) is gauged with means (17).
15. A process according to claim 14, characterised in that, after gauging, the product (9) is pressed with a plunger (18) in the half-shell (3).
Type: Application
Filed: May 27, 2003
Publication Date: Nov 24, 2005
Inventor: Rudolf Fux (Eschenburg-Eibelshausen)
Application Number: 10/516,652