DE202019105079U1 - Food packaging materials and trays made from them - Google Patents

Abstract

Layered material for use in food packaging, comprising a cardboard layer and a silicone-treated paper layer, an adhesive layer being arranged between the cardboard layer and the silicone-treated paper layer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to layered materials for storing food, and in particular to layered materials for forming open-top containers for storing and cooking frozen foods.

GENERAL PRIOR ART

Frozen food is often sold in food packaging that includes a container that holds the frozen food and that is in direct contact with the frozen food, a plastic wrap that surrounds the container and the frozen food to provide additional protection, for example by introducing a protective one Atmosphere, and an outer cardboard packaging that gives shape for efficient storage as well as information and advertising space to describe the content.

The containers for holding the frozen food, which are in direct contact with the frozen food, have to meet several requirements, such as safe and clean containment of the frozen food, non-toxicity, recyclability, they should not cause any color change of the food, they should depend on the type of food stored frozen foods endure moist and / or acidic conditions, they should be appealing to the consumer, and many others. In addition, they should be able to withstand high temperatures in cases where the frozen food inside the container is to be oven-cooked or microwave-cooked.

Accordingly, the container materials have to meet many different requirements, which can sometimes be difficult, almost impossible at the same time.

The prior art is therefore a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned disadvantages are overcome by the invention according to the appended claims.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a layered material for use in food packaging comprising a cardboard layer and a silicone-treated paper layer, an adhesive layer being disposed between the cardboard layer and the silicone-treated paper layer. The paper treated with silicone can be a paper treated with silicon on one side, the surface treated with silicone on the paper layer treated with silicon on one side being arranged away from the adhesive layer. The material of the present invention is suitable to be molded into frozen food packaging and is in direct contact with the frozen food. In particular, one of the surfaces of the layered material is treated with silicone and this surface should be in contact with the frozen food when the material forms part of a container. According to the present invention, the layered material is capable of withstanding temperatures of at least -18 ° C to 220 ° C, such as from -40 ° C to 250 ° C, and can therefore be used both for storing frozen foods and for oven cooking or Microwave cooking of frozen foods can be used before consumption.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive layer contained in a layered material can be a plastic-free adhesive. The use of a plastic-free adhesive offers improvement in the recyclability and thermal resistance of the layered material.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the total content of the layered material consists of at least 95% by weight of paper or cardboard. In this embodiment, the paper content results from both the cardboard layer and the silicon-treated paper layer, while the adhesive layer and the silicone coating form only a very small proportion of the total layered material according to the invention. Such a low non-paper or cardboard content enables the material to be easily recycled through the standard paper collection for recycling purposes available to many consumers. For the same reasons, in one embodiment, the layered material does not include metals, for example, the layered material does not include aluminum.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the cardboard layer, which faces away from the adhesive layer of the layered material, is suitable for being printed by standard printing processes. This allows the layered material to be supplied in any color required to provide a suitable overall picture of the packaged frozen food. This also makes it possible to provide the layered material with advertising messages and / or information directed to the consumer of frozen food contained in the frozen food packaging formed from the layered material according to the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the layered material can be molded into an open-topped container for storing and storing frozen foods.

Also part of the present invention is an open-topped food receptacle comprising a layered material in accordance with the previously described embodiments of the present invention. The open top container of the present invention is suitable for the storage and packaging of frozen foods. If the open-topped container is offered to the consumer in retail stores such as a supermarket, it may or may not be sealed using standard plastic film, and may or may not be enclosed in a cardboard container. The open-topped food container of the present invention has all of the advantages of the layered material of the present invention. Accordingly, the frozen food stored inside the open-top food container according to the invention can be oven-cooked or microwave-cooked, the open-top food container is easily recyclable via standard collection rounds available to the consumer, the open-top container can be of any color and with any information and / or printed advertising can be delivered as circumstances require. Due to the presence of the silicone layer in contact with the frozen food, the open-topped container is also resistant to the moisture and / or acid that comes from the packaged frozen food (including while it is being cooked in the oven), and durability and product quality are the same as with any standard packaging maintained according to the state of the art.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the open-topped container can be in the form of a bowl for holding and storing the frozen food. As used herein, the term "shell" is intended to describe an open-topped container that is closed at the bottom and sides so that the open top has a relatively large area compared to the total area of the container, such as more than 20%. the total area of the container. In other words, in the case of a bowl with a rectangular base, the bottom and the wall sides will be made of the layered material according to the present invention, while the top remains open. In the case of a bowl with a rounded base, such as a circular base, the underside and the surrounding side surfaces will be made of the layered material of the present invention while the top remains open. The sides of the bowl with a rectangular base or a rounded base can lean outwards from the base, and accordingly the open top surface is larger than the bottom surface, and the total surface area of the open top (the section of the top opening) can be up to 50% of that total outer surface of the shell according to the present invention.

list of figures

• 1 zeigt einen oben offenen Behälter, der eine rechteckige Basis nach einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung aufweist.

The invention will now be described in detail by way of illustration of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying figure.

• 1 shows an open-topped container having a rectangular base according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1 shows an open top container according to the present invention. The open top container is made of a layered material in accordance with the present invention.

According to the present invention, the layered material comprises a cardboard layer and a silicon-coated paper layer and an adhesive layer which is arranged between the cardboard layer and the silicon-coated paper layer. The various layers that make up the layered material are described in detail below.

cardboard layer

As applied to the layered material of the present invention, a layer of cardboard forms part of the material. The cardboard can be a standard fibreboard that has a basis weight in the range of 150 g / m ² to 450 g / m ² . For example, the paperboard may have a basis weight of about 200 g / m ² or about 250 g / m ² or about 300 g / m ² or about 350 g / m ² or about 400 g / m ² . In a specific embodiment, the cardboard can have a basis weight of approximately 230 g / m ² . The cardboard can also have a thickness in the range of 100 microns to 350 microns. For example, the cardboard can have a thickness of about 150 µm or about 200 µm or about 250 µm or about 300 µm. In a specific embodiment, the cardboard can have a thickness of approximately 305 microns.

The paperboard that forms a layer of the layered material of the present invention may itself have a layered structure. For example, the paperboard may have a three-layer sulfate pulp fiber structure, with the middle layer being a chemo-thermomechanical pulp includes. The fibrous content of the cardboard can be 90% by weight or higher, for example 95% by weight or higher or even 98% by weight or higher.

Layer of paper treated with silicone

As applied to the layered material of the present invention, a paper layer treated with silicone forms part of the material. Paper treated with silicone is well known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the silicone treated paper is only treated on one side with silicone. The paper layer treated with silicone can have a basis weight in the range from 50 g / m ² to 150 g / m ² . For example, the siliconized paper layer can have a basis weight of about 75 g / m ² or about 100 g / m ² or about 125 g / m ² . The silicone-treated paper layer can be structurally similar to a standard baking paper as is known to those skilled in the art. The fiber content of the silicone-treated paper can be 90% by weight or higher, such as 95% by weight or higher, or even 98% by weight or higher.

adhesive layer

As applied to the layered material of the present invention, an adhesive layer forms part of the material. The adhesive layer is arranged between the cardboard layer and the paper layer treated with silicone. If the paper layer treated with silicone is a paper layer treated on one side with silicone, then this is arranged such that the untreated side of the paper layer treated with silicone is in contact with the adhesive layer in such a way that the side treated with silicone of the paper layer treated with silicon on one side faces away from the adhesive layer so that it is in contact with frozen foods when used. The adhesive layer consists of a standard adhesive, as is known to the person skilled in the art. For example, an adhesive AQUENCE BG 7093 his (known as ADHESIN A 7093) as supplied by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Düsseldorf, Germany. In one embodiment, the adhesive layer can consist of a plastic-free adhesive. For example, a plastic-free adhesive ADHESIVO PA- 13 as supplied by MODEXSA Modificados Y Dextrinas, SA, Barcelona, Spain.

Layered material

The layered material is formed by methods known to those skilled in the art. In the finished layered material, the adhesive layer is placed between the cardboard layer and the silicon-treated paper layer. If the silicone-treated paper layer is a silicon-treated paper layer, the untreated surface of the silicone-treated paper layer is in contact with the adhesive layer such that the silicone-treated surface of the silicone-treated paper layer is on the outside of the layered material according to the present invention The invention is exposed in such a way that the silicone-treated surface of the layered material can be brought into direct contact with frozen food that is to be packaged.

The layered material according to the present invention is suitable for being molded into frozen food containers, such as frozen food containers open at the top, as exemplified by frozen food trays.

The layered material of the present invention can withstand temperatures normally encountered in consumer freezers such as temperatures of -15 ° C or less, temperatures of -20 ° C or less, temperatures of -30 ° C or less or even temperatures of -40 ° C or less. As used herein, the term "can withstand temperatures" means that the layered material retains its shape and remains flexible at such temperatures, and that there are no significant cracks or other damage during long exposure to such temperatures, such as 1 year or so more, occur.

In addition, the layered material of the present invention is able to remain stable in typical oven and microwave cooking environments. For example, the layered material of the present invention can remain stable at a temperature of 200 ° C or more for 30 minutes or more, or even at a temperature of 220 ° C or more for 60 minutes or more. As used herein, the term "remain stable" means that the layered material retains its shape and stability without significant cracks or other damage occurring during exposure to such a temperature for such a time as indicated.

Finally, the layered material according to the present invention can withstand any negative effects of moisture and / or acidity that originate from the frozen food contained in a food packaging made of the layered material. This is because the silicon-treated side of the paper layer is in contact with the frozen food, and this applies both at low (freezing) temperatures and high (cooking) temperatures, as mentioned above. As used herein, the term "can withstand any negative impact" means that there is no discernible softening or appearance of permeability during the periods normally required for low temperature storage and high temperature cooking as described above, and that there are no cracks or other damage to the structure of the layered material during exposure to the frozen food while it is being stored and cooked.

The layered material as described herein is recyclable through the standard paper collection rounds available to most consumers in industrialized countries. The paper content of the layered material is generally 95% by weight or higher, the non-paper content has a low content, which may not result in a significant loss in the quality of the recycled paper obtained by using standard prior art procedures.

Containers for food packaging

Open top containers for containing and packaging food made from the layered material of the present invention also form part of the present invention. In one embodiment, the open-topped containers may be in the form of a food bowl for storing frozen foods, as in FIG 1 shown. According to the present invention, the inside of a container for packaging frozen foods is made of a silicone-treated paper layer such that the silicone-treated side of the silicone-treated paper layer is in contact with any frozen foods contained in the frozen foods container, and therefore both the structural Integrity of the container and the quality of the food contained therein are protected. As a result, the outer layer of the open-top food tray, which is not in contact with frozen food contained in the container, is made of the cardboard layer, which can be printed with printing ink to give an open-top food container a look and color that is considered appropriate by the consumer can be. The open top container can also be printed with advertising and / or information directed at the consumer.

Food dishes as disclosed herein can have standard dimensions for standard single or double dish portions. For example, the food bowls made from the layered material of the present invention may have a volume of 200 cm ³ or more, such as 400 cm ³ or more or 500 cm ³ or more or 600 cm ³ or more. For example, an open top container according to the present invention may have a length at its base in the range of 100 mm to 250 mm, such as about 150 mm or about 200 mm. For example, an open top container according to the present invention can have a width in the range of 75mm to 150mm, such as about 100mm or about 125mm. For example, an open top container according to the present invention can have a height in the range of 20mm to 50mm, such as about 30mm or about 35mm or about 40mm. In one embodiment, the side walls of the food bowl made of the layered material can lean outward such that the upper opening has a larger cross-sectional area than the base of the food bowl.

Top open containers according to the present invention, such as food trays, can accommodate a variety of frozen foods, such as ready-made frozen meals, which include products including red meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, dairy products, and all mixtures thereof. Once the frozen food is contained in the open top container, it can be sealed using a standard plastic film covering the top opening of the container.

It should be noted that the present invention may include any combination of the features and / or limitations referred to herein, except for combinations of features that are mutually exclusive. The foregoing description has been directed to certain embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of illustration. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many modifications and variations of the embodiments described herein are possible. All of these modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

Layered material for use in food packaging, comprising a cardboard layer and a silicon-treated paper layer, an adhesive layer being arranged between the cardboard layer and the silicon-treated paper layer. Layered material after Claim 1 , wherein the paper layer treated with silicone is a paper layer treated with silicon on one side and the surface of the paper layer treated with silicon treated with silicon is arranged away from the adhesive layer. Layered material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive is a plastic-free adhesive. Layered material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the total content of the layered material consists of at least 95% by weight of paper or cardboard. A layered material according to any one of the preceding claims, which does not comprise aluminum, for example the layered material does not comprise metals. Layered material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the cardboard layer facing away from the adhesive layer is suitable for being printed by standard printing processes. A layered material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the layered material is molded into an open-topped food container. Open top container for holding food comprising the layered material according to any one of the preceding claims. Container open at the top Claim 8 which has the shape of a bowl.

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