Package, apparatus and process of manufacturing said package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020331684-A1
Application number	US-201816954618-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Oct 22, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package for containing a product comprising a support (1) which has: a base (2) configured for receiving one or more products, a perimetral edge (6) which surrounds the base (2), a removable portion (21) extending as a prolongation of the perimetral edge (6) away from the base (2). The package further comprises a closing film (10) engaged to a portion of the perimetral edge (6) and to the removable portion (21) and configured for defining—in cooperation with the support (1)—a housing compartment (5) for the product (P); the removable portion (21) and at least a part of the closing film (10) are configured for being separated from the support (1) during an opening step of the package (100). The package (100) is configured for defining a closing condition in which: the closing film in cooperation with the support (1) prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the product (P), and the removable portion (21) is aligned with at least a portion (6a) of the perimetral edge (6) from which it extends as a prolongation. The package (100) further comprises a gripping portion (22) emerging from the perimetral edge 6 and extending, in the closed condition of the package, transversally to the removable portion (21). The present invention also relates to a process and an apparatus for making said package.

First claim

1 . Package ( 100 ) for containing at least one product (P) comprising:
at least one support ( 1 ) exhibiting:
at least one base ( 2 ) configured for receiving one or more products (P),
at least one perimetral edge ( 6 ) surrounding the base ( 2 ),
at least one removable portion ( 21 ) extending as a prolongation of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) away from the base ( 2 ),
a closing film ( 10 ) engaged with at least one portion of the perimetral edge ( 6 ), and with the removable portion ( 21 ) and configured for defining—cooperatively with the support ( 1 )—a housing compartment ( 5 ) for the product (P), the removable portion ( 21 ) and at least part of the closing film ( 10 ) being configured for being separated from the support ( 1 ) during a step of opening the package ( 100 ), the package ( 100 ) being configured for defining a closed condition wherein: the closing film ( 10 ) cooperatively with the support ( 1 ) interdicts the access to the housing compartment ( 5 ), and the removable portion ( 21 ) is aligned with at least one portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which the removable portion ( 21 ) itself extends as a prolongation; characterized in that the package ( 100 ) further comprises a gripping portion ( 22 ) emerging from the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and extending, in said closed condition of the package, at least partially transversally to the removable portion ( 21 ).

2 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ), in the closed condition, is coplanar with at least said portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which the removable portion itself extends as a prolongation.

3 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is integrally joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ).

4 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping edge ( 22 ) extends between:
an attachment portion ( 24 ) directly engaged with the perimetral edge ( 6 ), and an end portion ( 23 ) which, at least in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), is distanced from the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and from the removable portion ( 21 ), wherein the end portion ( 23 ), at least in the closed condition, is distanced from the closing film ( 10 ).

5 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) extends along a prevalent development direction which, at least in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), is angularly offset with respect to the removable portion ( 21 ).

6 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is directly engaged with the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and is folded with respect to this latter, optionally the gripping edge ( 22 ) is directly engaged with at least said portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ), the gripping portion ( 22 ) extending as a prolongation and being folded with respect to said portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ).

7 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the perimetral edge ( 6 ) comprises an external flange ( 30 ) which lies on a plane, wherein the closing film ( 10 ) being at least partially engaged with the flange ( 30 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) extending along a respective plane transversal to the lying plane of the flange ( 30 ).

8 . Package according to claim 7 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ), in the closed condition of the package, extends along a main direction coplanar with the lying plane of the flange ( 30 ).

9 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a tab emerging from the perimetral edge ( 6 ), said tab, in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), lying on a plane,
wherein the removable portion ( 21 ) comprises a respective tab also extending along a respective plane, wherein the tabs, respectively of the gripping portion ( 22 ) and removable portion ( 21 ), at least in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), are angularly offset from each other.

10 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the closing film ( 10 ) extends, in thickness, between a first and second surfaces ( 10 a , 10 b ), the support ( 1 ) extending, in thickness, between a first and second surfaces ( 1 a, 1 b ), wherein the second surface ( 10 b ) of the closing film ( 10 ) contacts at least partially the first surface ( 1 a ) of the support ( 1 ),
wherein:
the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a first surface ( 22 a ) seamlessly engaged with the first surface ( 1 a ) of the support ( 1 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a second surface ( 22 b ) seamlessly engaged with the second surface ( 1 b ) of the support ( 1 ),
wherein the first surface ( 22 a ) of the gripping portion ( 22 ) does not contact the closing film ( 10 ).

11 . Package according to claim 10 , wherein the second surface ( 10 b ) of the closing film ( 10 ) is engaged at least partially with the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and with the removable portion ( 21 ).

12 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ), in the closed condition of the package, is:
joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) only by means of the closing film ( 10 ); or integrally joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ) by at least one weakening portion ( 25 ) of the support ( 1 ), said weakening portion ( 25 ) being configured for ensuring the separation of the removable portion ( 21 ) itself from the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ) during a step of opening the package ( 100 ) following the closed condition.

13 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the base ( 2 ) of the support ( 1 ) comprises a bottom wall ( 8 ) and a lateral wall ( 7 ),
said lateral wall ( 7 ) emerging, in height, from the bottom wall ( 8 ) transversally to this latter, and defining, cooperatively with said bottom wall ( 8 ), a containment seat adapted to receive the product (P), wherein the flange ( 30 ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) emerges from the lateral wall ( 7 ) according to a direction exiting from the containment seat, said flange ( 30 ) being distanced from the bottom wall ( 8 ), wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is disposed at the side of said lateral wall ( 7 ).

14 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the support ( 1 ) comprises at least one angular portion ( 11 ),
the removable portion ( 21 ) being disposed at the at least one angular portion ( 11 ), optionally, the removable portion ( 21 ) defines at least part of said angular portion ( 11 ), wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is disposed at said at least one angular portion ( 11 ), optionally the gripping portion ( 22 ) and removable portion ( 21 ) are disposed at a same angular portion ( 11 ) of the support ( 1 ).

15 . Package according to claim 1 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ) exhibits a substantially “L” or “C” or “U” or “V” shape having a concavity facing the base ( 2 ) of the support ( 1 ),
the removable portion ( 21 ) and at least part of the perimetral edge ( 6 ), at least in the closed condition of the package, delimiting an opening ( 12 ), wherein at least in the closed condition of the package, the closing film ( 10 ) is placed for covering said opening ( 12 ),
optionally, said opening ( 12 ) is defined, at least in the closed condition of the package, between said removable portion ( 21 ) and at least part of the flange ( 30 ).

16 . Process of making a package ( 100 ) for containing at least one product (P) according to claim 1 , said process comprising at least the following steps:
moving a sheet material ( 200 ) along a predetermined advancement path (A), making at least

Assignees

• Cryovac Llc

Inventors

• Ghirardi Alessandra
• Capitani Stefano

Classifications

• B65B5/04

  Packaging single articles · CPC title

• B65D2577/2083

  in container flange · CPC title

• B65D2577/2066

  Means on, or attached to, container flange facilitating opening, e.g. non-bonding region, cut-out · CPC title

• B65D77/204 Primary

  the cover having an unsealed portion for initiating removal (B65D77/2036 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B61/02

  for perforating, scoring {, slitting,} or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging {(scoring ampoules B65B3/006)} · CPC title