EP1206397A1

EP1206397A1 - Packaging device

Info

Publication number: EP1206397A1
Application number: EP99931419A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Valentin Chareyron
Original assignee: Yellowknife AVV
Current assignee: Yellowknife AVV
Priority date: 1999-08-02
Filing date: 1999-08-02
Publication date: 2002-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-02
Also published as: AU4795199A; WO2001009004A1; DE69908431D1; ATE241529T1; EP1206397B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a packaging device comprising a container (1), a closure element (2), in the form of an inner seal (12), and a soft and sealing film (13) affixed to the inner seal (12) and forming a compensating chamber (6) with variable volume connected to the outside by a perforation (17) provided in the inner seal (12). The device is designed to contain a substance (14), such as water, which increases in volume when it freezes. The maximum internal volume of the compensating chamber (6) is not less than said increase in volume of the substance, such that neither the container, nor the inner seal is damaged or broken when the substances increases in volume. The device is particularly adapted to the production of ice in hermetically sealed packages.

Description

PACKING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a packaging device intended for sealingly packaging at least one substance which is capable of exhibiting variations in volume and comprising a container comprising at least one opening and a closing member intended to close said opening.

The invention is intended more particularly for the preparation of ice cubes and for the packaging of food substances; however, it can also apply to the packaging of any other substance.

It is a fact that the hygiene of the ice cubes intended to refresh the drinks leaves something to be desired. The tap water used is far from perfect, and even dangerous in some countries. Refrigeration production facilities are rarely shut down for sufficient cleaning. The temperature is not low enough to prevent the development of germs. The ice cubes can stay in the holding tank for too long before being served. Some servers manipulate the ice cubes with their fingers to throw them at the bottom of the glasses. Consequently, the consumer often has no other solution than to remove the ice cubes himself from the glass or to order his drinks specifying "without ice".

The ice cubes are currently prepared at home using suitable bins placed in the freezer. Even if these ice cubes can be made with mineral water, there are potential sources of problems, such as a lack of hygiene due to cleaning of the containers, the duration of storage of the ice cubes in the open air, hygiene when handling ice cubes. Similar problems arise with automatic ice makers. The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a packaging device which is characterized for this purpose by the fact that it comprises, arranged in said container, at least one compensation chamber whose internal volume is variable to compensate for variations in volume of said substance, which has an at least partially movable sealed wall separating said variable internal volume from said substance, and which is capable of communicating through at least one orifice with the outside of the container.

These characteristics make it possible to obtain a packaging device capable of compensating for the variations in volume of its content without the walls of the container and of its closure member being deformed or deteriorated. These characteristics and advantages are particularly useful for the production of ice cubes contained in a sealed and airtight package. Thanks to this packaging device, the consumer can receive his drink accompanied by a few ice cubes sealed in their individual sealed packaging under optimal hygienic conditions.

There are many advantages:

- safety of ice cubes in regions where the water is likely to be unfit for consumption;

- guaranteed quality of content; - no dilution when the ice cube is prepared with the drink it is intended to cool;

- no cold chain to respect, increases and decreases in volume due to freezing, thawing and refreezing are fully compensated; - pre-storage at normal temperature of the ice packs with the drinks;

- long shelf life; - communication and publicity support;

- uncomplicated and low-cost manufacturing. Advantageously, the compensation chamber is arranged so as to present, in its inflated state at maximum volume, a volume at least as large as the value of the maximum volume increase that the substance contained in the container can undergo.

These characteristics ensure great safety in the use of the packaging device, the contents of which can be frozen, thawed and refrozen repeatedly. The device is favorably arranged to contain essentially water or ice, the volume of the compensation chamber in its inflated state at maximum volume corresponding substantially to at least ten percent of the volume of water contained in the container.

This embodiment is particularly suitable for the industrial production of ice cubes.

According to a preferred embodiment, said compensation chamber is formed of a film of flexible material fixed to said closure member constituted by a cover and containing an air bubble or another gas or fluid directed towards said contained substance. in the container, the cover being crossed by at least one orifice to connect the air bubble with the outside.

A particularly safe packaging device is thus obtained, easy to manufacture and of very moderate cost price, therefore well suited to mass production.

Advantageously, the device can comprise a plurality of containers attached laterally to each other to form plates or bands and closed at their upper part by said cover.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing and using the packaging device and is characterized for this purpose by the fact that the container is prepared, the film with a preformed cavity and the cover, which is fix the film under the cover so as to trap an air bubble or other gas or fluid in the cavity, that the container is filled with the substance at a predetermined filling level, such that a volume sufficient to allow the expansion of the substance is reserved in the container, that the assembly consisting of the cover and the film is fixed in a leaktight and removable manner on the container, and that a drilling is made in the cover.

This process allows safe, fast and low cost packaging of food products, such as ice cubes and of course also non-food products. Other advantages appear from the characteristics expressed in the dependent claims and from the description setting out the invention below in more detail with the aid of drawings which schematically represent by way of example four embodiments and variants.

Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment, the content being liquid, respectively frozen.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the mode of use of this first embodiment.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show variants of the first embodiment. Figures 8 to 14 are views showing the different stages of a method of manufacturing and using the first embodiment.

Figures 15 and 16 are views of a second embodiment. Figures 17 and 18 show a third embodiment. Figures 19 and 20 illustrate a fourth embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, the packaging device according to the first embodiment consists of three parts, namely a container 1, for example in the form of a semi-rigid thermoformed cup 11, a closure member 2 intended to close an upper opening 7 of the container 1, here constituted by a cover 12 similar to that of a pot of yogurt, and a wall waterproof 3 movable, mobile and / or deformable, for example formed of a flexible film 13 thermoformed with a preformed cavity. This film 13 may advantageously be made of plastic, for example high density polyethylene. The container 1 is intended to contain a determined quantity of a substance 4 which is either in the liquid state 14 or in the frozen or solid state 15. The flexible film 13 is fixed, for example by heat sealing under the cover. It forms a volume of fluid, more particularly an air bubble 16 directed towards the liquid 14. The cover 12 is crossed by at least one bore in the form of a small hole 17 connecting the air bubble to the outside of the packaging. This air bubble therefore forms a compensation chamber 6 whose internal volume is variable, since the sealed wall 3 is flexible and deformable.

When the substance 4 changes volume, for example when it changes from the liquid state to the solid state, the compensation chamber 6 makes it possible to compensate for the variations in volume by air exchange with the outside through the or holes or bores acting as a regulatory body. Thus, the volume of this compensation chamber in the inflated state at maximum volume is at least as large as the value of the maximum increase in volume that the substance 4 can undergo in the container. In particular, substance 4 may contain a determined quantity of water or ice. The volume of the compensation chamber 6 in its inflated state is then at least as large as the increase in volume generated when the amount of water turns into ice.

According to a particularly advantageous use of the invention, the container essentially contains water and the device is intended for the production of ice cubes. The volume of the compensation chamber in its inflated state then corresponds approximately to ten percent of the volume of water contained in the cup 11. When the water freezes in the cup 11, it can increase its volume at the expense of the compensation chamber 6, the volume of which decreases sharply by expelling air through the hole 17. The film 13 then folds (FIG. 2) and the ice cube 15 is formed while remaining sealed in the packaging, the cup 11 and the cover 12 do not undergo any deformation. When the water is thawed, the bubble re-forms. Thus, the cold chain can be interrupted without the substance contained in the cup 11 coming into contact with the outside and without the container and the lid being deformed.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cup 11 comprises a detachable tab or tab 20 which is integral with the cover 12 and film 13 assembly. This tab 20 facilitates the opening of the cup. The ice cube 15 is then extracted normally through the opening 7 as in the case of a simple ice cube tray.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the buckets 11 can be manufactured to be presented in stackable plates or strips or in pairs. These buckets can then be separated by breaking segments, grooves or perforated.

The invention is particularly suitable for the production of ice cubes made of water or mineral water, as shown in FIG. 7. The consumer can then receive his drink accompanied by a few ice cubes hermetically sealed in their individual packaging, advantageously identified with name of a brand 21 of mineral water or other drink and with an expiry date. The outer surface of the cover then serves as a printing surface, for example to identify the content or as an advertising medium.

An advantageous method of manufacturing and using the packaging device shown in FIG. 1 is explained below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14.

The three parts of the packaging device, namely the cup 11, the film 13 with its preformed concave bubble and the cover 12 in the cavity, are prepared (FIG. 8). The film 13 is fixed on its edges, for example by heat sealing, under the cover so as to trap in the cavity an air bubble 16 or another gas or fluid corresponding substantially to at least ten percent of the volume of water which will be contained in the cup 11 (fig. 9). The connection between the film and the cover must be tight and permanent. The liquid, water for example, is then poured into the cup 11 to a level above the final filling level 22 to be reached (fig. 10). The cup 11 is then presented opposite a suction tube 23 whose height of the orifice is calibrated so as to obtain the final filling level 22 desired by suction of the excess liquid (FIG. 11). The filling of the cup is thus carried out so as to reserve an unoccupied volume 24 which is sufficient to allow the expansion of the liquid during its freezing (FIG. 12).

The assembly, cover 12 and film 13, is in turn fixed, for example by heat sealing, on the rim 25 of the cup 11. The bubble 16 then expels a volume of air equivalent to its volume of the cup 11 (fig. 13 ). The assembly is fixed in a leaktight, but removable manner, to the bucket 11.

A hole 17 is then made in the cover 12 so as to allow air to circulate between the bubble 16 and the outside so as to form a compensation chamber 6 with variable volume. When the liquid is frozen and thereby expands, the air from the bubble 16 escapes through the hole 17 and neither the cup 11 nor the cover 12 are deformed (fig. 2). When the contents are thawed, the bubble 16 is reformed (fig. 1), this cycle being able to continue indefinitely.

The variant illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 comprises a cup 31 closed at its upper part by an intact cover 32 without orifice. A film 33 is fixed to the bottom 34 of the bucket 31 to form a bubble 36 playing the role of compensation chamber. The bottom is pierced with a small hole 37.

In another variant shown in Figures 17 and 18, the film 43 is fixed to the side wall 44 of the bucket 31. Apart from this difference, this variant is identical to the previous one. The container 1 can have any shape, including fancy shapes. In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the packaging device is used for the molding of sorbets or edible ice cream 45. The container 1 is closed by a cover 46 made in one piece with a rod 47 extending from the two sides of the cover 46. The lower side of the rod is surrounded by a film 48 forming a compensation chamber 49 (FIG. 19). The cover 46 is pierced with a small hole 50. When the ice 45 is frozen (FIG. 20), the compensation chamber has a very small volume. For consumption, the container 1 is removed. The ice 45 remains however fixed on the rod 47 which can be held by the consumer by its other free end.

It is understood that the embodiments and variants described above have no limiting nature and that they can receive any desirable modification within the framework as defined by claim 1. In particular, the device packaging can be adapted to the filling and storage of any food or non-food substance undergoing volume variations. Instead of being formed by a glued lid, the closing member could be constituted by any other cover or plug fixed to the container by any means, screwing, tightening, etc. The waterproof wall 3 could be rigid and connected to the container by a deformable element, such as a waterproof bellows, to ensure the volume variations of the compensation chamber 6. This waterproof wall could be made of any other flexible, deformable waterproof material or rigid. Instead of a single hole or bore, the closure member could be pierced with several orifices, preferably of small diameter, less than 1 mm. Instead of the ice cubes being made up of water or mineral water, they could be prepared according to very varied compositions and tastes. They could for example have a composition similar or identical to the drink they are intended to cool, so that the latter is not diluted or altered in its taste. They could also add flavor different to the drink. The packaging may also be used as an advertising medium.

The manufacturing and use process could also be modified and adapted to specific conditions. Thus, the filling of the liquid could be carried out in a single operation with suitable metering means. The liquid could also be filled to the brim and the excess liquid would then be expelled by fixing the seal and film assembly.

Claims

1. Packaging device for sealingly packaging at least one substance (4) which is liable to have variations in volume and comprising a container (1) comprising at least one opening (7) and a closing member (2 ) intended to close said opening (7), characterized in that it comprises, arranged in said container (1), at least one compensation chamber (6) whose internal volume is variable to compensate for variations in volume of said substance (4), which has an at least partially mobile sealing wall (3) separating said variable internal volume from said substance (4) and which is capable of communicating through at least one orifice (17) with the outside of the container.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation chamber (6) is arranged so as to present, in its inflated state at maximum volume, a volume at least as large as the value of the increase in volume maximum that the substance (4) contained in the container can undergo.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is arranged so as to contain a substance (4) comprising a determined quantity of water or ice and in that the volume of the compensation chamber (6 ) in its inflated state to maximum volume is at least as large as the increase in volume generated when said determined quantity of water turns into ice.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it is arranged to contain essentially water or ice and in that the volume of the compensation chamber (6) in its inflated state to maximum volume corresponds substantially to at least ten percent of the volume of water contained in the container (1).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compensation chamber (6) is formed of a film (13) of flexible material fixed to said closure member (2) consisting of a cover (12) and containing an air bubble (16) or of another gas or fluid directed towards said substance (4) contained in the container, the cover (12) being traversed by at least one orifice (17) for connecting the bubble air (16) with the outside.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said film (13) is permanently fixed against the inner wall of the cover (12) and in that the set of cover and film is removably fixed against a rim (25) of the container (1).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of containers (11) attached laterally to each other to form plates or strips and closed at their upper part by said cover (12) .

8. Use of the device according to one of the preceding claims for the production of hermetically sealed ice cubes in their packaging.

9. A method of manufacturing and using a packaging device according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the container (1), the film (13) with a preformed cavity and the cover (12), which the film (13) is fixed under the cover (12) so as to trap an air bubble (16 ) or another gas or fluid in the cavity, that the container is filled with the substance (4) to a predetermined filling level (22), such that a volume sufficient to allow the expansion of the substance either reserved in the container (1), that the assembly consisting of the cover and the film is fixed in a leaktight and mobile manner on the container (1), and that a drilling (17) is made in the cover (12).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the filling of the substance (4) is carried out by filling the substance to a filling level greater than said predetermined filling volume (22) and that the substance is aspirated ( 4) in excess by a suction tube (23) whose height of the orifice is calibrated so as to obtain the predetermined filling level.