Tray with side recesses and channels for gas transfer

• US 7,093,734 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Garwood, Anthony J. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse, Nathan J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lhymn, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US10/384,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20030152675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 220/747, 220/745, 220/748, 220/776, 220/913, 220/670, 220/675, 220/608, 206/521.11, 206/497, 206/204, 206/524.4, 206/557, 426/129, 426/118, 426/113
• US Class Current: 220/675
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/00 General methods for preserving meat, sausages, fish or fish products
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/12 Preserving with acids; Acid fermentation
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/16 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/24 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/00 Meat products; Meat meal; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3418 in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/067 combined with its conservation
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/028 closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/02 Applying adhesives or sealing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/162 by feeding web material to securing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/164 Securing by heat-sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/062 the movable parts being attached or integral and displaceable into a position overlying the top of the container, e.g. bails, corner plates covers B65D21/064
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/066 the movable parts being supports or feet, e.g. retractable feet, pivotable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2024 the cover being welded or adhered to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2076 in an at least partially rigid container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/261 for draining or collecting liquids without absorbing them
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/263 for ventilating the contents B65D5/4295, B65D51/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/267 the absorber being in sheet form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/28 : Applications of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants

Abstract

Packaging methods and apparatus for bonding a lidding web to a tray web, characterized in that the lidding web is placed under tension in both the longitudinal and lateral directions before being bonded to a tray web. A tray web having recesses and channels that form a conduit when the tray web is overwrapped with a lidding web is provided. A lidding web has microperforations to control the transfer of gases.

Claims

1. A tray, comprising:

a material web having sides and a base to provide a product cavity, at least one of said sides defining a series of recesses with connecting channels, said channels and recesses providing a conduit when a second web is bonded at least over the cavity and side, said conduit being from the product cavity to the exterior of the web, thereby allowing transfer of gases, and minimization of liquid loss.

2. The tray of claim 1, wherein the channels to at least one recess are at different heights on the recess.

3. The tray of claim 1, wherein the channels to at least one recess are at the same height on the recess.

4. The tray of claim 1, wherein at least one channel extends from the plane of the series of recesses into a different plane.

5. The tray of claim 1, further comprising peaks along the upper side wall of the tray, wherein at least one channel extends from at least one peak.

6. A tray, comprising:

a web of material formed into a tray container with tray cavity, said container having a plurality of recesses on a side of the tray, adjacent ones of said recesses being connected with channels, the plurality of recesses and channels together forming a path from the tray cavity to the exterior when a web of material is bonded to the tray and side.

7. The tray of claim 6, wherein the channels to at least one recess are at different heights on the recess.

8. The tray of claim 6, wherein the channels to at least one recess are at the same height on the recess.

9. The tray of claim 6, wherein at least one channel extends from the plane of the tray side into a different plane.

10. The tray of claim 6, further comprising peaks along the upper side wall of the tray, wherein at least one channel extends from at least one peak.

11. The tray of claim 6, wherein said recesses and channels are formed on a tray flap that is bonded to the side wall around the tray cavity.