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WO2015034496A1 - Contenant pour produit alimentaire - Google Patents

Contenant pour produit alimentaire Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2015034496A1
WO2015034496A1 PCT/US2013/058187 US2013058187W WO2015034496A1 WO 2015034496 A1 WO2015034496 A1 WO 2015034496A1 US 2013058187 W US2013058187 W US 2013058187W WO 2015034496 A1 WO2015034496 A1 WO 2015034496A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
container
food
food product
beverage
interior space
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2013/058187
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Matthew W. Lorence
Scott Kackman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Mills Inc
Original Assignee
General Mills Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Mills Inc filed Critical General Mills Inc
Priority to PCT/US2013/058187 priority Critical patent/WO2015034496A1/fr
Publication of WO2015034496A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015034496A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B29/00—Packaging of materials presenting special problems
    • B65B29/02—Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package
    • B65B29/022—Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package packaging infusion material into capsules
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
    • B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
    • B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
    • B65D85/8061—Filters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/40—Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
    • B65B9/042—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material for fluent material

Definitions

  • Food products such as beverages have been packaged in single serving portions.
  • These single serving beverage portions can be utilized by known single serving brewing machines to produce a single cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate and the like.
  • These single serving beverage portions may or may not include a filter depending on the type of beverage dispensed by the single serving brewing machine.
  • Cartridges for use with beverage forming machines are known, and may include one or more filters as well as a beverage medium, such as ground coffee beans, tea leaves, etc.
  • the filter is located between two or more portions of an interior space of the cartridge, e.g., one portion in which a beverage medium is located, and a second portion into which liquid that has passed through the filter may flow.
  • the present disclosure relates to food product containers that are configured to be received in a receiver of a beverage forming device.
  • the food product container is a thin film article.
  • the thin film container can be thermoformed and have an average sidewall thickness of less than 150 micrometers.
  • a food product container is configured to be received in a receiver of a beverage forming device.
  • the container has an outer surface defining an interior space and a food or beverage liquid contacting medium disposed within the interior space.
  • the container has a sidewall peak compression force of less than 5 Newtons.
  • a method includes disposing the container described herein within a container receiver of a beverage forming machine and piercing the container outer surface with the beverage forming machine. Then contacting water from the beverage forming machine with the food or beverage liquid contacting medium with the water to form a food or beverage liquid. Then dispensing the food or beverage liquid from the beverage forming machine.
  • a method of forming a food product container includes thermo forming a first polymer film having a thickness of less than 150 micrometers to form a cup form having an open rim top end and a closed bottom end, the cup form defining an interior space. Then disposing a food or beverage liquid contacting medium into the interior space and sealing a second film on the open rim top end to form a food product container.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative beverage forming device
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative container
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a container being placed in a receiver of a beverage forming device
  • FIG. 4A-4E are a schematic diagram of a thermoforming process for making the illustrative container.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative food product forming system.
  • a "food product” is a food produced by combining two or more edible ingredients. Food products include both solid and liquid foods and beverages.
  • sidewall peak compression force refers to peak force required to compress the sidewall of the container. This is a physical property of the sidewall structure of the container.
  • the present disclosure relates to food product containers.
  • the food product container is a thin film pressurized article where the pressure can assist in maintaining the structural integrity or form of the container.
  • the thin film container can be thermoformed and have an average sidewall thickness in a range from 5 to 100 micrometers or in a range from 5 to 50 micrometers.
  • the container has an outer surface defining an interior space and a food or beverage liquid contacting medium disposed within the interior space.
  • the container can be pressurized to provide a sealed interior space where the pressure within the container provides sidewall structural support for the container.
  • This pressurized container can have a peak compression force of greater than 40 Newtons or greater than 50 Newtons. When the pressure is released, the container is easily crushed with an applied compressive force.
  • This container can have a sidewall peak compression force of less than 5 Newtons. While the present disclosure is not so limited, an appreciation of various aspects of the disclosure will be gained through a discussion of the examples provided below.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative beverage forming device 10.
  • the beverage forming device can be a single serve beverage forming device such as the device described in U.S. 7,165,488.
  • a beverage cartridge is received in a receiver 12 of this single serve beverage forming device 10 and the beverage is dispensed into a cup 14 below the receiver 12.
  • the beverage forming device utilizes a needle or piercing element that forms a hole in a top surface and a bottom surface of the beverage cartridge.
  • the needle or piercing element can have a diameter of up to a few millimeters and forms a hole or a void in the beverage cartridge that is substantially equal to the diameter of the needle or piercing element.
  • the containers 20 described herein are able to be pierced with the needle or piercing elements of the beverage forming device even though the pressurized sealed interior space provides sidewall structural support for the container.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative container 20 that can be received in the receiver 12 of a single serve beverage forming device 10.
  • the container of FIG. 2 has a frustroconical shape with a side surface 22 extending between a top surface or lid 24 and a bottom surface 25.
  • the side surface 22 and bottom surface 25 cooperate to define a "cup form" of the container 20.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a container 20 being placed in a receiver 12 of a beverage forming device 10.
  • a food or beverage liquid contacting medium can be contained within a sealed interior space of the container 20.
  • the food or beverage liquid contacting medium can be any useful food or beverage material.
  • the food or beverage liquid contacting medium is agglomerated to assist in quick dissolution into the water stream.
  • the food or beverage liquid contacting medium includes soluble food material and/or insoluble food material.
  • the solid food material can include any useful food item that can be infused or hydrated such as soup solids, dried fruit, nuts, croutons, and the like for example.
  • the soluble food material can include any useful food item such as flavorings, spices, starches, protein, soluble fibers, vitamins and minerals, dairy solids, and the like for example.
  • Liquids can also be present in the food or beverage liquid contacting medium such as flavors, fats, emulsions, oils and the like for example.
  • the container 20 includes a removable (e.g., peel-off or tear-off) lid
  • food or beverage liquid contacting medium includes solid or insoluble food or beverage material that is dispensed into the food product by removing the lid of the container 20 and removing the food or beverage liquid contacting medium from the container 20 to form the food product.
  • the container 20 has an outer surface defining an interior space and a food or beverage liquid contacting medium disposed within the interior space.
  • the interior space is pressurized and sealed to form a pressurized sealed interior space.
  • the pressurized sealed interior space provides sidewall structural support for the container 20. When the pressure is released, the container 20 is easily crushed with an applied compressive force. In other words, the cup form or sidewall 22 of the container 20 do not provide vertical structural support so that a compressive force applied to the top of the cup form or sidewall 22 will collapse the sidewall 22.
  • a physical property of the sidewall of the container is the "sidewall peak compression force,” that is the peak force required to compress the sidewall of the container.
  • This physical property can be measured with a force tester available under the trade designation MTS Instron Sintech ReNew, from MTS Systems Co,. Eden Prairie MN. This physical property is measured when the container is not in a sealed or pressurized state, in other words the container has one or more vent holes to allow air to leave the container as it is compressed.
  • the containers described herein have a sidewall peak compression force value being less than 5 Newtons or less than 3 Newtons or less than 2 Newtons.
  • Typical containers commercially available under the trade designation K-CUP have a sidewall peak compression force of about 200 Newtons or greater.
  • the outer surface is formed of a thin film material.
  • the thin film material can be a polymeric film having a thickness of 150 micrometers or less or 125 micrometers or less or 100 micrometers or less that can be thermo formed into the cup form and final container.
  • the cup form or final container can have sidewall thickness of less than 125 micrometers, or less than 100 micrometers, or less than 75 micrometers.
  • the polymeric film can be formed of any thermoplastic polymer material that is capable of being thermoformed and containing the food or beverage liquid contacting medium and the gas pressure.
  • the polymeric film if formed of a polyolefm or polyester.
  • thermoplastic polymer material that exhibit dimensional stability sufficient to allow the material to maintain a desired expansion potential, during extended storage periods, include certain types of polyethylene terephthalate (PET, or PETE), APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate, or polyester), APET base material with EVOH nylon (polyethylene sealant or polypropylene- based sealant); PETE; and oriented PET (oriented PET polymer with PE sealant base with various levels of nylon); APET-cross direction; APET-machine direction; OPET machine direction; OPET cross direction.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • APET amorphous polyethylene terephthalate, or polyester
  • APET base material with EVOH nylon polyethylene sealant or polypropylene- based sealant
  • PETE and oriented PET (oriented PET polymer with PE sealant base with various levels of nylon); APET-cross direction; APET-machine direction; OPET machine direction; OPET cross direction.
  • the top surface 24 of the container 20 is formed of the same type of polymer material as the remaining cup form of the container 20. In other embodiments, the top surface 24 of the container 20 is formed of a different type of material (polymer or film) as the remaining cup form of the container 20.
  • the container 20 outer surface is transparent to visible light so that the food or beverage liquid contacting medium disposed within the sealed interior space is observable by a user of the food product container.
  • the polymeric film forming the sidewall 22 of the container 20 is visible light transparent.
  • a portion of the outer surface is transparent to visible light and a portion of the outer surface is opaque to visible light.
  • the container 20 outer surface is opaque to visible light so that the food or beverage liquid contacting medium disposed within the sealed interior space is not observable by a user of the food product container.
  • the container 20 is formed of a thermoplastic porous layer, such as a filter or mesh material.
  • the thermoplastic mesh layer can be thermoformed into the cup form and a lid can be fixed to the cup form to form the final container.
  • This container would not be able to be sealed or pressurized and can have the same physical properties and dimensions described for the sealed and pressurized containers above.
  • the container 20 outer surface is defined by a top surface 24 sealed to a thermoformed cup form 22.
  • the thermoformed cup form or side wall 22 has an average thickness in a range from about 5 to 75 micrometers or from about 5 to 50 micrometers or from about 5 to 30 micrometers.
  • traditional containers have a sidewall thickness of at least 200 micrometers and preferably more than 250 micrometers. These traditional containers have polymeric or metallic sidewalls with these greater thicknesses. These thick polymeric or metal sidewalls provide structural support and resist compressive forces. In other words, when these traditional containers are pierced and depressurized, the sidewalls themselves resist compressive forces so that the container will not crush under compressive forces that will crush the containers described herein.
  • the container sealed interior space includes a filter element to contain the food or beverage liquid contacting medium. This is particularly useful for any type of infusion-type beverage such as tea, coffee and the like.
  • a portion of the filter can be attached or fixed to a lid or top portion of the container.
  • the filter mimics the form of the container, such as a cup form.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a container 20 being placed in a receiver 12 of a beverage forming device 10.
  • the sidewall of the receiver 12 contacts the sidewall 22 of the container 20.
  • a needle pierces the container 20 outer surface at both the top surface 24 and bottom surface 25 at the same time or substantially the same time.
  • water from the beverage forming machine contacts the food or beverage liquid contacting medium with the water to form a food or beverage liquid and dispenses the food or beverage liquid from the beverage forming machine 10.
  • the top surface 24 and bottom surface 25 of the container 20 can be pierced since the sidewall 22 of the container 20 does not resist crushing once the pressure is released from the container 20.
  • the piercing step substantially eliminates the sidewall structural support of the container 20, and yet both the top surface 24 and bottom surface 25 of the container 20 can be pierced.
  • FIG. 4A-4E are schematic diagrams of a thermoforming process for making the illustrative container 20.
  • the method includes thermoforming a first polymer film 21 to form a cup form having an open rim top end and a closed bottom end and the cup form defining an interior space.
  • a form 50 is pressed into the first polymer film 21 and against the mold 55 to deform the first polymer film 21 into the cup form.
  • FIG. 4B illustrates the form 50 and mold 55 in place with the first polymer film 21 conforming to the mold 55 and form 50 shape.
  • a thickness of the first polymer film 21 can decrease during the thermoforming process.
  • FIG. 4C illustrates placing a filter media 30 into the cup form.
  • the filter media 30 can be formed of any suitable material.
  • the filter media 30 can have a similar cup form as the container 20.
  • the filter media 30 can be fixed to the sidewall 22 of the container 20 or lid or top surface 24 of the container.
  • FIG. 4D illustrates disposing a food or beverage liquid contacting medium 26 into the interior space of the filter media 30, for example. Then the process includes pressurizing the interior space to form a pressurized interior space and sealing a second polymer film 24 or top surface on the open rim top end to form a food product container 20 having a pressurized interior space. In some embodiments the method does not include the filter element 30 within the interior space.
  • the first polymer film 21 Before the first polymer film 21 is thermo formed to form a cup form, the first polymer film has a thickness of 150 micrometers or less or 125 micrometers or less.
  • the thermoformed cup form has an average thickness in a range from about 5 to 75 micrometers or from about 5 to 50 micrometers or from about 5 to 30 micrometers.
  • a plurality of containers 20 can be joined to form a web of containers 20. This web of containers 20 can be sub-divided into single containers 20 or a connected set of containers 20 that a consumer can detach for use.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative food product forming system 50.
  • the system 50 includes a container 20 as described above and a portion packaged food product 30, 40 that is associated with the food or beverage liquid contacting medium within the container 20.
  • two or more of the food product forming systems 50 can be packaged together and sold to a consumer in a convenient package 100.
  • the portion packaged food product 30, 40 can include a pre-set portion of dry food ingredients 40 or wet food ingredients 30 within a pouch or package that is combined with the liquid component formed with the food or beverage liquid contacting medium within the container 20.
  • the portion packaged food product 30, 40 can include a pre-set portion of frozen or refrigerated food ingredients.
  • the portion packaged food product and liquid component formed with the food or beverage liquid contacting medium can be combined in any order.
  • the portion packaged food product includes a retort pouch
  • a retort pouch refers to food packaging created by aseptic processing and made from one or more flexible barrier layers that allow for hermetic packaging of the food product.
  • a retort pouch can be formed of plastic or metal foil layers and can be an alternative to traditional canning methods or any method that extends a shelf life of a food product.
  • the retort package is a rigid container that can be utilized to combine portion packaged food product and liquid component formed with the food or beverage liquid contacting medium.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un contenant pour produit alimentaire, conçu pour être reçu dans un récepteur d'un dispositif de formation de boisson. Le contenant possède une surface externe définissant un espace intérieur et un milieu en contact avec l'aliment ou la boisson disposé au sein de l'espace intérieur. Le contenant présente une force maximale de compression de paroi latérale inférieure à 5 Newtons.
PCT/US2013/058187 2013-09-05 2013-09-05 Contenant pour produit alimentaire Ceased WO2015034496A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2013/058187 WO2015034496A1 (fr) 2013-09-05 2013-09-05 Contenant pour produit alimentaire

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2013/058187 WO2015034496A1 (fr) 2013-09-05 2013-09-05 Contenant pour produit alimentaire

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015034496A1 true WO2015034496A1 (fr) 2015-03-12

Family

ID=52628799

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2013/058187 Ceased WO2015034496A1 (fr) 2013-09-05 2013-09-05 Contenant pour produit alimentaire

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2015034496A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9320382B2 (en) 2013-07-15 2016-04-26 La Vit Technology Llc Capsule based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
US10034570B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2018-07-31 LaVit Technology LLC Capsule based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
US10080459B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2018-09-25 La Vit Technology Llc Capsule-based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5840189A (en) * 1992-09-16 1998-11-24 Keurig, Inc. Beverage filter cartridge
US20070246488A1 (en) * 2006-04-20 2007-10-25 Warren Cash Container
US20110233232A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2011-09-29 Juergen Greiner-Perth Discharging device for liquids

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5840189A (en) * 1992-09-16 1998-11-24 Keurig, Inc. Beverage filter cartridge
US20070246488A1 (en) * 2006-04-20 2007-10-25 Warren Cash Container
US20110233232A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2011-09-29 Juergen Greiner-Perth Discharging device for liquids

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10034570B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2018-07-31 LaVit Technology LLC Capsule based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
US10080459B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2018-09-25 La Vit Technology Llc Capsule-based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
US10945554B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2021-03-16 La Vit Technology Llc Capsule-based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
US11723486B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2023-08-15 LaVit Technology LLC Capsule-based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
US9320382B2 (en) 2013-07-15 2016-04-26 La Vit Technology Llc Capsule based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage

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