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EP-4741299-A2 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES AND USE OF A FILM FOR THIS METHOD

EP4741299A2EP 4741299 A2EP4741299 A2EP 4741299A2EP-4741299-A2

Abstract

In a method for packaging an object in a barrier film, a carrier, along with the object on it, is completely enclosed in the barrier film. This can be achieved either by creating a vacuum inside the film bag and then sealing the bag under vacuum, or by having a pressure relief valve or vent hole attached to the barrier film. The film bag is sealed by thermal welding at least two layers of the barrier film, ensuring a tight fit against the carrier and object. The barrier film is two-layered with a thin EVOH film layer in between to allow for recyclability.

Inventors

  • KALLFASS, JENS

Assignees

  • Kallfass, Jens

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251031

Claims (16)

  1. Method for packaging an object in a film, wherein the film is a barrier film that is impermeable to bacteria and germs and preferably almost impermeable to atmospheric gases such as oxygen, CO2 , wherein the method comprises the following steps: A) Providing a support and the object on the support, wherein the support, in plan view, laterally extends beyond the object, B) Completely encasing the carrier with the object on it in the barrier film, C) Completely sealing the barrier film around the carrier with the object on it to form a film bag, D) Alternatively to step C), the barrier film is completely sealed around the carrier with the object on it to form a film bag, the finished film bag being provided with a pressure relief valve attached to the barrier film, in particular to a top of the film bag, wherein the foil bag is sealed by thermal welding of at least two superimposed layers of the barrier film.
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the barrier film has a thickness between 10 µm and 100 µm, preferably between 10 µm and 50 µm or between 20 µm and 30 µm.
  3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the barrier film is sealable or has two layers of PE film with a barrier layer in between, wherein the barrier film is preferably co-extruded.
  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the barrier film is selected from the group: EVOH, PE, PO, LDPE, HDPE, VCI, ESD.
  5. A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vacuum is created in the foil bag such that the foil bag is pressurized with vacuum it is sealed, whereby the negative pressure is created or is created and maintained during the complete sealing process.
  6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vacuum has been created in step C) or in step D) in the foil bag after complete sealing, wherein the vacuum is between 0.01 bar and 0.9 bar, preferably between 0.1 bar and 0.5 bar.
  7. A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier with the object thereon is first inserted into the barrier film in such a way that the barrier film is below the carrier and overlaps continuously and without interruption upwards onto the carrier and the object thereon on a first lateral side, wherein both film layers project beyond the carrier and the object thereon on the opposite second lateral side, wherein preferably the two film layers are then welded together on this second lateral side, in particular with a distance to the second lateral side that is less than 20% or less than 10% of the distance between the two lateral sides.
  8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the welding takes place at least on the second lateral side in a continuous process, wherein in particular the welding is carried out by means of a side welding device with two heated pairs of wheels which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel of the objects, wherein in each of the pairs of wheels two wheels are pressed against each other and transport and connect or close two superimposed layers of the barrier film between them by welding in order to form the film bag.
  9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, during packaging in the barrier film, the carrier with the object on it is moved along a transport direction, wherein the two film layers are connected to each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to this transport direction by welding, in particular on a front side of the carrier as seen in the transport direction, wherein preferably the film bag is finally closed by welding the two film layers to each other on a rear side opposite the front side.
  10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior of the foil bag contains normal air or no protective gas, preferably with the negative pressure according to claim 5 or 6.
  11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the interior of the foil bag contains a protective gas, preferably with the negative pressure according to claim 5 or 6.
  12. A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a negative pressure according to claim 5 or 6 is generated in the foil bag by inserting an elongated, self-supporting pipe into the foil bag which is not yet completely closed and then drawing air out of the foil bag through the pipe, wherein in particular the air is drawn out while the foil bag is being closed in step C), wherein preferably the pipe is withdrawn from the partially closed foil bag before the foil bag is completely closed.
  13. A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vacuum is generated in step C) in the foil bag according to claim 5 or 6, by generating a vacuum in a laterally closed foil tube in which several objects are arranged one behind the other, wherein a welding plunger extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and preferably moving along with the object seals and separates the first object in the foil tube outside of a unit generating the vacuum, wherein in particular a suction tube for generating the vacuum is immovably or statically positioned in the foil tube.
  14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, as an alternative to step C) or D), gas and/or air are expelled from the foil bag before the foil bag is completely closed, preferably by applying pressure from one side, in particular from above, to the foil bag in a flat and compliant or flexible manner, preferably with a soft-elastic plate or with compressed air.
  15. Use of a barrier film for packaging an object on a carrier using a method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the barrier film preferably has a thickness between 10 µm and 100 µm, preferably between 10 µm and 50 µm or between 20 µm and 30 µm, and is in particular a multilayer film.
  16. Device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it has a side welding device with two pairs of wheels for welding the barrier film to the lateral sides of the objects, wherein the pairs of wheels are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel of the objects, wherein in each of the pairs of wheels two wheels are pressed against each other and move between them two superimposed layers of the barrier film and connect or close them together by welding to form the film bag, wherein at least one of the wheels of a pair of wheels is heated.

Description

Application area and state of the art The invention relates to a method for packaging an object in or with a film, wherein the object rests on a carrier and this carrier, together with the object, is then enveloped in the film. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a so-called barrier film for packaging an object on a carrier according to this method. Finally, the invention also relates to a device with which the method according to the invention can be carried out. It is known, for example, to package food items directly and solely in film. It is also known to place food items onto a carrier, such as cardboard or a multi-layered plastic tray, where the carrier has a wide, circumferential rim. A multi-layered film is then glued or welded onto this rim for sealing. For this purpose, the film is designed to prevent germs, bacteria, or excessive oxygen from reaching the food being packaged from the outside in. Furthermore, these films are sometimes relatively thick to ensure a durable and stable bond with the rim of the carrier. A disadvantage of this multi-layered construction is that the material is not recyclable. A lid can be made of LDPE/EVOH/PP with a thickness of 55 µm, and a carrier of PET or LDPE. Furthermore, for example, from the EP 3 530 457 A1 So-called EVOH shrink films are known, which can also be barrier films. They, too, can be used for packaging food products on trays. After packaging or sealing, they can be thermally shrunk in the usual way. Task and solution The invention is based on the objective of providing a method, a corresponding use, and a corresponding device mentioned above, with which problems of the prior art can be solved and, in particular, it is possible to safely, durably, and as germ-free or as possible, store foodstuffs as objects on a carrier. to be able to package well, preferably with the packaging being as fully recyclable as possible, and with one carrier possibly being compostable. This problem is solved by a method with the features of claim 1, by a use with the features of claim 15, and by a device with the features of claim 16. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of further claims and are explained in more detail below. Some of the features are described only for the method, only for the use, or only for the device. However, they are intended to apply independently and autonomously to the method, to such use, and to a corresponding device. The wording of the claims is incorporated into the description by express reference. The method serves to package an object in a film, wherein the object is arranged on a carrier. Several objects, particularly similar or identical ones, can also be on a single carrier. Preferably, however, it is a single carrier in a single film package. The film can be a polyolefin film or a barrier film as described above, preferably an EVOH film, optionally also a multilayer film with one layer of EVOH film, advantageously as the middle layer between two other film or paper layers. It is difficult or impossible for bacteria and germs to penetrate. Likewise, it can be virtually impermeable to atmospheric gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc., or 95% to 99% impermeable. Preferably, it is airtight. The packaging method comprises the steps described below. The film or barrier film can therefore be a film-on-film or film-on-paper system, advantageously forming a barrier layer and a sealing layer. Similarly, a paper-on-paper system can be used as a film or barrier film, which is a so-called sealable paper that then has a barrier layer and a sealing layer made of plastic, and thus the entire paper-on-paper system can also be considered a film within the meaning of the present application. In the aforementioned systems, the paper webs are joined together and sealed or welded by means of pressure and heat, just as with films. Such sealable papers are available, for example, from the companies Sappi Group or Mondi plc. As step A), a support is provided on which at least one of the aforementioned items is placed. The support extends laterally beyond the item, at least when viewed from above. Advantageously, the support can also be taller than the item, thus extending beyond it, but this is not mandatory. Alternatively, the support can be attached to the item to be packaged. The carrier should be adapted to the object or the items to be packaged, and may be smaller or the same size. The size of the carrier should differ from the size of the object by no more than 10% at the contact point. Preferably, the carrier is larger than or even extends beyond the object. In step B), the carrier with the object on it is completely wrapped or encased in the barrier film, meaning it is entirely within the film. The film may still be open at least at one point or along one side of the carrier. This is, firstly, an intermediate stage in the packaging process anyway. Secondly, this openness can be used because it offe