EP3279112B1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: EP3279112B1
Application number: EP16182274.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adam Matusz
Original assignee: Kraft Foods Belgium Intellectual Property BVBA
Current assignee: Kraft Foods Belgium Intellectual Property BVBA
Priority date: 2016-08-01
Filing date: 2016-08-01
Publication date: 2019-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-01
Also published as: EP3279112A1; CN109562879A; ES2729995T3; US20190308788A1; WO2018025078A1

Description

Field

A tray is described herein and, in particular, a tray configured to stand on end, as well as a package incorporating the tray, a method of forming the tray, and a method of forming the package incorporating the tray.

Background

A common package, such as for food products, includes a tray surrounded by a flow wrap. Such trays can include one or more compartments, where each compartment has a bottom wall, an opposite access opening, and a surrounding sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the access opening. Such trays also include a peripheral flange surrounding the compartment, or, if more than one compartment, surrounding the more than one compartments. However, such packages can be difficult to stand on end because the flange projects outwardly beyond the bottom wall of the compartment. Thus, when standing one edge and supported by an edge of the bottom wall of the compartment and an edge of the flange, a substantial angle of inclination results and the center of gravity of the package can be disposed such that the package is difficult to stand on end. While the package could be disposed on its bottom side or top side, that orientation would result in a small portion of the package being visible to a consumer, such as on a display or retail shelf.
US-A-4158408 discloses a package for candy canes which is a body of resilient, synthetic resin material having a pair of adjacent cane-receiving depressions therein.GB-A-1205473 discloses a tray for locating cylindrical articles which is formed from thermoplastic sheet and comprises a generally flat upper surface formed with a plurality of recesses.US-A1-2003106829 discloses a slotted overwrapped tray assembly for a perishable foodstuff having a tray body with at least one overwrap layer.US-A-5695798 discloses a compartmentalized, plastic food package including a container and sealed cover which have a plurality of individually sealed chambers for distinct foodstuffs.

Summary

The present invention provides a tray in accordance with claim 1 and a method in accordance withclaim 14.
A tray for use in a food package having an outer surrounding wrapper, such as a flow wrap, and configured for standing on end, is described herein. The tray can include one or more compartments. Each of the compartments can include a bottom wall, an opening opposite the bottom wall, and a surrounding side wall extending between the bottom wall and the opening. A generally planar, peripheral flange is disposed at least partially, and preferably completely, about the periphery of the tray and adjacent the opening of the compartment or, if more than one compartments, the openings of the compartments. The tray includes at least one and, optionally, a pair of flaps, disposed on opposite sides of the tray, or one side if only one flap. Any description herein with respect to the structure and function of a pair of flaps will also be applicable to a tray having only one flap. Each of the flaps is connected to the flange via an associated intersection or hinge and extends substantially perpendicular relative to the flange such that the tray can be supported on one of the flaps in a generally upright orientation.
In one aspect, each of the flaps, or the one flap if only one flap, can be movable from a first position, substantially parallel to the flange, to a second position, substantially perpendicular relative to the flange. The flaps can be movable about the intersection from the first position to the second position. The interserction can be one of a channel, score, perforation or thinned section disposed between the flange and the flap. The intersection can optionally be notched at at least one end, and preferably at each end, thereof to facilitate movement from the first positon to the second position.
In another aspect, each of the flaps can have a plurality of ribs. Each of the ribs of at least one of the flaps can extend generally perpendicular relative to the flange when the at least one of the flaps extends substantially perpendicular relative to the flange.
In yet another aspect, a portion of the sidewall of the one or more compartments, adjacent one of the flaps, can have an inward taper away from the hinge of the adjacent flap. The ribs of the one of the flaps can have intermediate segments that increase in depth generally corresponding to the inward taper of the sidewall such that, when the one of the flaps is extending substantially perpendicular relative to the flange, a portion of at least one and preferably more than one of the segments between the ribs abuts the portion of the sidewall of the one or more compartments. This can advantageously facilitate a generally perpendicular orientation of the package when supported on the one of the flaps because the flap can abut the adjacent compartment to limit further inward movement of the flap while supporting the flap such that the flap can in turn support the package in the generally upright orientation.
In one aspect, each of the ribs on one - or both -- of the flaps can taper in width toward the intersection. In other words, the ribs can be wider away from the intersection than adjacent the intersection. Each of the flaps has a free end, opposite the adjacent intersection, that is disposed nearly - but not quite and generally short of -- the bottom wall of at least one of the at least one compartment. In other words, the flap - or both flaps - do not have a length the same as that of the distance from the flange to the bottom wall of the compartment or compartments. The can advantageously ensure that the flap or flaps do not interfere with transport of the tray along a conveyor prior to flow wrapping, as the tray can be supported by the bottom wall of the compartment or walls of the compartments. The free end of each of the flaps can optionally have an outwardly extending minor flange. This minor flange can assist in maintaining the shape of the ribs, particularly adjacent thereto.
In any of the aspects described herein, the tray can include a single compartment or an array of a plurality of compartments each optionally surrounded by the flange, and the array is preferably at least partially surrounded by the flange.
In any of the aspects described herein, the tray can be provided with an outer surrounding wrapper. The wrapper can be applied using a flow wrapping process. For instance, the outer surrounding wrapper can be a flow wrap having a pair of end seals, where the end seals are optionally disposed generally perpendicular to the flaps. Food or other products can be deposited in the compartment or compartments prior to flow wrapping.
A method of forming a package using the tray described herein can include one or more of the steps of thermoforming or otherwise forming the tray, depositing one or more food products in each of the at least one compartments, folding each of the flaps from the first position to the second position, either before or after the depositing step, and surrounding the tray with a wrapper, such as using a flow wrap process.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a tray in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, showing a plurality of compartments surrounded by a peripheral flange and a pair of opposing flaps depending from edge of the flange;
Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the tray ofFigure 1;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tray ofFigure 1;
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the tray ofFigure 1;
Figure 5 is a section view of the tray taken along line A-A ofFigure 3;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a package having an outer surrounding wrapper surrounding the tray ofFigure 1;
Figure 7 is a section view of the package ofFigure 6 taken along line VII-VII;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tray similar to the tray ofFigure 1, but showing the flaps in an unfolded orientation, with further differences described below;
Figure 9 is a bottom perspective view of the tray ofFigure 8;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of the tray ofFigure 8;
Figure 11 is a side elevation view of the tray ofFigure 8; and
Figure 12 is an end view of the tray ofFigure 8.

Detailed Description

Apackage 10 is provided that has atray 20 that has one ormore compartments 30 for containing a product, such as afood product 12, and an outer surroundingwrapper 14, where thepackage 10 is configured for standing upright on one of its ends. This can advantageously allow for the large front face of the package to face outwardly when the package is on a shelf in a store, thereby provided a larger space for graphics and other information. The one ormore compartments 30 of the tray are at least partially surrounded by aperipheral flange 22. At least oneflap 40 is spaced from thecompartments 30 by theflange 22. Preferably, though not necessarily, a pair ofopposing flaps 40 are spaced from the compartments by theflange 22. The flaps have an orientation that is adjacent to thecompartments 30 and, in some instances, abutting thecompartments 30, such that thepackage 10 can be supported in its upright orientation by one of theflaps 40. Optionally, theflaps 40 can each include a plurality ofribs 42 with intermediate segments that have a taper corresponding to, or, in some instances, matching the taper of asidewall 32 of anadjacent compartment 30 such that part of theflaps 40 can abut thesidewall 32 of thecompartment 30. This can result in a generally perpendicular angle between surfaces of the flap and theflange 22 to facilitate supporting thepackage 10 in its upright orientation.
Turning now to an exemplary embodiment of thetray 20 for use in thepackage 10, shown inFigures. 1-5, thetray 20 includes an array of a plurality ofcompartments 30. Each of the compartments has abottom wall 34, shown inFigures 1-3, anaccess opening 36, as shown inFigure 1, and asidewall 32 extending between the access opening 36 and thebottom wall 34, such as shown inFigures 1 and2. Thesidewalls 32 of thecompartments 30 can have an inward taper, as shown inFigure 5, such that the access opening 36 is larger in area than the area of thebottom wall 34. The taper can be provided as part of a draft angle to facilitate withdrawal of thetray 20 from a mold cavity during forming. Thecompartments 30 are sized to accommodate products, such asfood products 12, for example, biscuits. Whilemultiple compartments 30 are shown in the exemplary embodiment ofFigures 1-5, the number of compartments can vary, including having one a single compartment. Furthermore, the height of thesidewall 32 can vary for a givencompartment 30.
Thecompartments 30 are surrounded by aperipheral flange 22 adjacent theiraccess openings 36. Specifically, the array of compartments is surrounded by theflange 22. Theflange 22 optionally can extend betweenadjacent compartments 30 or partially betweenadjacent compartments 30. Theflange 22 is generally planar, and is optionally generally coplanar with at least a portion of thebottom walls 34 of thecompartments 30. Although aflange 22 is shown surrounding the array ofcompartments 30, theflange 22 could instead just be on a pair of opposing sides of thetray 20, or only on one side of thetray 20. The flanges could also be arranged on adjacent sides of a corner of the tray, or on all sides of the tray. Theflange 22 can also include a smalldownturned rim 24, as shown inFigure 9.
A pair of opposingflaps 40 are attached to theflange 22, as shown inFigures 2 and5. Theflaps 40 can be attached relative to theflange 22 byrespective intersections 26, which optionally can be hinges. For example, theflaps 40 can be directly attached to the planar portion of theflange 22, or attached to therim 24 of theflange 22. Theflaps 40 extended generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the generally planar portion of theflange 20. Theflanges 40 each advantageously provide a support surface for supporting thepackage 10 in an upright orientation, as shown inFigure 7. Although twoflanges 40 are shown, only one flange may be provided. Further, although theflanges 40 are shown on a longer side of thetray 20, they could alternatively extend on the shorter side of thetray 20, or on both a long and a short side, or on all sides. Because theflange 40 projects outwardly from the tops of thecompartments 30, adjacent theaccess openings 36, if theflaps 40 were not present, then the tray would be inclined when tried to stand on end. That is, the tray, and package, would be supported by edges of the bottom wall of the compartments and an adjacent edge of the flange. With the recess of the edges of the bottom walls relative to the adjacent edge of the flange, this inclination results. The inclination may be of such a degree that the package is unstable and not able to be supported, or may be unstable, in an upright orientation on one of its ends. Theflaps 40 make up for this recess and can provide a morestable package 10 able to be supported in an upright orientation on of the end of the package adjacent one of theflaps 40.
Turning now to details of theflaps 40, each of the flaps can have a series ofribs 42, as shown inFigure 4. Theribs 42 can provide strength to theflaps 40, and can extend outwardly - away from the compartments 30 - relative to inward portion orsegments 44 of theflaps 40 disposed betweenadjacent ribs 42. Theribs 42 can have an outward surface that is optionally curved. Theinward segments 44 of theflaps 40 can taper inwardly toward theadjacent compartments 30, with an increasing taper as theinward segments 44 extend away from theadjacent intersection 26. In other words, the depth of theribs 42 increases as theribs 42 extend away from theintersection 26, thereby positioning theinward segments 44 of theflaps 40 progressively more inward. The taper of theinward segments 44 of theflaps 40 can correspond or match the taper of thesidewalls 32 of the adjacent compartments 30. Advantageously, this can allow the flaps 40 - specifically, theinward segments 44 thereof, to abut thesidewalls 32 of theadjacent compartments 30, as shown inFigure 5, such that the angle between the outward surface of theribs 42 and the generally planar portion of theflange 22 are generally perpendicular or at another preferred angle that facilitates support of thepackage 10 on theflange 40 of thetray 20 when thetray 20 is surrounded by theouter wrapper 14. Theribs 42 can also have a width that tapers, increasing in width as theribs 42 extend away from theintersection 26, in addition to the depth of theribs 42 that tapers. Theribs 42 can optionally extend to free edges of theflaps 40, andoptional flanges 46 can extend between bottom edges of theribs 42. While it has been described that theribs 42 are projecting outwardly from theinward segments 44 of theflaps 40, that arrangement could be reversed. For example, the ribs could project inwardly instead of outwardly such that the ribs abut the compartments and the inward portion of the flaps is now an outward portion of the flaps that the tray can reset on when on end.
Theflaps 40 preferably have a length that is less than the depth of thecompartments 30, as shown inFigures 4 and 5. This means that the free edges of theflaps 40 are not coplanar with thebottom walls 32 of thecompartments 30. This can help reduce a lifting of thetray 20 by theflaps 40, such as from a conveyor, during movement of thetray 20 prior to and during flow wrapping.
As mentioned above, theflaps 40 are connected to the flange of the tray byintersections 26, which can be hinges. Theintersection 26 or hinge can optionally be any one of or combinations of channel, score, perforation, unformed section or thinned section disposed between theflange 22 and theflap 40. Thetray 20 can be formed with theflaps 40 in an unfolded orientation, as shown inFigures 8-12, where theflaps 40 are generally coplanar with the generally planar portion of theflange 22 as opposed to the folded orientation ofFigures 1-5.Notches 28 can be formed at one or both ends of theintersection 26, as shown inFigure 10, to facilitate folding of theflaps 40 to the orientation ofFigures 1-5. Thetrays 20 ofFigures 8-12 differ from the trays ofFigures 1-5 in that the corners of theflaps 40 are not tapered (see tapered corners inFigures 1 and4), theribs 42 are not as deep, and theflaps 40 are longer.
Turning now to the method of manufacturing thepackage 10, thetray 20 can be formed from any suitable manufacturing process, such as thermoforming. After forming, theflaps 40 of thetray 20 can be folded from an unfolded orientation (shown inFigures 8-12) to a folded configuration (shown inFigures 1-5). This folding can be done manually or using automated equipment.Products 12 can be placed in the one ormore compartments 30, either prior to folding or after folding of theflaps 40. The placement ofproduct 12 in thecompartments 30 can either be done manually or using automated equipment. Thetray 20 with theproduct 12 therein and theflaps 40 folded can be advanced through flow wrapping equipment to place anouter surrounding wrapper 14 about thetray 20. The flow wrapping equipment can form end seals 16, which can optionally be gusseted so as to reduce the width of the end seals 16. The resultingpackage 10 can advantageously be stood upright and supported in that upright orientation by one of theflanges 40, including if theflange 40 abuts thesidewall 32 of anadjacent compartment 30. The wrapper can be a flexible film suitable, for example, for contact with food.

Claims

A tray (20) for use in a package (10) having an outer surrounding wrapper (14), the tray (20) comprising:
at least one compartment (30) having a bottom wall (34), an opening (36) opposite the bottom wall (34), and a surrounding side wall (32) extending between the bottom wall (34) and the opening (36);
a generally planar, peripheral flange (22) disposed about the compartment (30) and adjacent the opening (36);
characterised by at least one flap (40) connected relative to the flange (22) via an associated intersection (26) and extending substantially perpendicular relative to the flange (22) such that the tray (20) can be supported on the flap (40) in a generally upright orientation, wherein the flap (40) is movable about the intersection from a first position, substantially parallel relative to the flange (22), to a second position, substantially perpendicular relative to the flange (22).
The tray (20) of claim 1, wherein the intersection (26) is one of a channel, score, perforation or thinned section disposed between the flange (22) and the flap (40).
The tray (20) of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the intersection (26) is notched at at least one end thereof to facilitate movement from the first positon to the second position.
The tray (20) of any one of claims 1- 3, wherein the flap (40) has a length substantially the same as the sidewall of the compartment (30).
The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the flap (40) has a plurality of ribs (42).
The tray (20) of claim 5, wherein each of the ribs (42) of the flap (40) extends generally perpendicular relative to the flange (22) when the flap (40) extends substantially perpendicular relative to the flange (22).
The tray (20) of claim 6, wherein a portion of the sidewall (32) of the compartment (30), adjacent the flap (40) has an inward taper away, and wherein the ribs (42) of the flap (40) have intermediate segments (44) that increase in depth generally corresponding to the inward taper of the sidewall (32) such that, when the flap (40) is extending substantially perpendicular relative to the flange (22), a portion of at least some of the intermediate segments (44) abut the portion of the sidewall (32) of the compartment (30).
The tray (20) of any one of claims 5-7, wherein each of the ribs (42) on the flap (40) tapers in width toward the intersection (26).
The tray (20) of claim 8, wherein the flap (40) has a free end, opposite the adjacent intersection (26), and wherein the free end of flap (40) has an outwardly extending minor flange.
The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-9, wherein a pair of the flaps (40) are provided, each of the flaps (40) being on opposite sides of the tray (20).
The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the tray (20) comprises a plurality of compartments (30) disposed in an array, and wherein the array of compartments (30) is at least partially surrounded by the flange (22).
The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-11, in combination with an outer surrounding wrapper (14), preferably, a flow wrap having a pair of end seals (16), the end seals (16) being disposed generally perpendicular to the flap (40).
The tray (20) of any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the compartment (30) contains at least one food product.
A method of forming a package (10) using the tray (20) of any one of claims 1 and 2-11, the method comprising:
forming the tray (20), and preferably thermoforming the tray (20), and, after forming;
depositing one or more food products in the compartment (30);
folding the flap (40) from a first position substantially parallel relative to the flange (22), to a second position, substantially perpendicular relative to the flange (22), either before or after the depositing step; and
flow wrapping the tray (20) and food products in an outer surrounding wrapper (14).