Abstract:
The invention concerns an element including: 1 sheet ( 1 ) including an intermediate zone ( 29 ) located between two zones designed to form side walls ( 9, 11 ), the intermediate zone ( 29 ) being designed to form a flap folded along the tip against one first ( 9 ) of the side walls, and elements ( 51   a,    51   b ) for guiding tears in the sheet ( 1 ) the elements forming a single pull tab ( 58 ) to cause tears, the pull tab ( 58 ) being, in the intermediate zone, spaced apart from the media axis (A) of the zone designed to form the base ( 3 ). The invention is, for example, applicable to packaging of melted cheese.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/995,540, filed Jan. 14, 2008, which is the 35 U.S.C. 371 National Stage of international application no. PCT/FR2006/001691, filed Jul. 11, 2006, which claims priority to French application nos. 05/07545 and 05/07546, filed Jul. 13, 2005. The entire contents of the above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to an element for producing a package for packaging a food product, the element being of the type comprising: 
         [0003]    a sheet which itself comprises:
       a zone which is intended to form a substantially triangular base, the zone which is intended to form the base having a centre axis,   two zones which are intended to form two lateral walls which meet each other at a tip,   a zone which is intended to form a projection opposite the tip,   an intermediate zone between the two zones which are intended to form the lateral walls, the intermediate zone being intended to form a flap which is folded along the tip against a first of the lateral walls,   means for guiding tears in the sheet, the guiding means extending substantially along lateral edges of the zone which is intended to form the base, the guiding means forming a single traction tongue in order to bring about tears, the traction tongue extending through the intermediate zone and protruding beyond the sheet.       
 
         [0009]    The invention is used in particular for packaging soft cheese. 
         [0010]    In the remainder of the text, packages having substantially triangular bases are intended to refer to packages whose bases are effectively triangular with rectilinear sides, but also those whose bases have a curved side and are therefore in the shape of a disc sector. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    FR-2 597 441 describes an element of the above-mentioned type for packaging a portion of soft cheese. In this element, the traction tongue extends in the intermediate zone along the centre axis of the zone which is intended to form the base of the package. 
         [0012]    Although the opening of the package described in this document is on the whole satisfactory, the initiation and propagation of the tears require traction in two different directions. 
         [0013]    The traction of the tongue is carried out a first time towards the tip and the second lateral wall of the package in order to unfold the flap in which the traction tongue is located. After this flap has been unfolded, the traction is produced a second time towards the base of the package and the projection in order to initiate and propagate the tears. 
         [0014]    An action of this type is considered to be complex and difficult to implement by some consumers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    An object of the first aspect of the invention is therefore to overcome this problem by providing an element of the above-mentioned type which facilitates the opening of a package for packaging a food product. 
         [0016]    To this end, the first aspect of the invention relates to an element for producing a package for producing a food product. 
         [0017]    According to specific embodiments, the element may comprise one or more of the features recited in dependent claims. 
         [0018]    The first aspect of the invention also relates to a package for packaging a food product. 
         [0019]    According to variants, the package may have the features recited in dependent claims. 
         [0020]    The first aspect of the invention further relates to an assembly including a package and a food product packaged therein. 
         [0021]    According to a variant, the food product is soft cheese. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0022]    The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following description, given purely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a packaging element for packaging soft cheese, 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective illustration of a step for producing the package from the element of  FIG. 1 , 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective illustration of the completed package, 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the beginning of the opening of the package of  FIG. 3 , and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective illustration of an installation for cutting and sealing tear guiding members, 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of one of the blades of the installation of  FIG. 5 , and 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a perspective schematic illustration of a variant of the installation of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    The sheet  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a sheet which is intended for packaging a portion of soft cheese having a base in the form of a disc sector. The sheet  1  is, for example, produced from aluminium covered with heat-sealing lacquer. 
         [0031]    In order to form a package, and as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sheet  1  is shaped in the form of a receptacle  2  by means of folding along the dashed lines in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0032]    The sheet  1  comprises zones which are intended to form the different portions of the receptacle  2 . These different portions will be described below. The same references will generally be used to refer to the portions of the receptacle  2  and the corresponding zones of the sheet  1 . 
         [0033]    The receptacle  2  comprises a base  3  in the form of a disc sector delimited by two lateral edges  5  and  7  and an edge  8  in the form of a circular arc. Perpendicularly relative to the plane of the base  3 , the receptacle  2  comprises:
       a first lateral wall  9  and a second lateral wall  11  which extend along the rectilinear edges  5  and  7 , and   a curved wall which forms a projection  13  which extends along the edge  8  in the form of a circular arc.       
 
         [0036]    The lateral walls  9  and  11  meet each other at a tip  15  opposite the projection  13 . 
         [0037]    The lateral walls  9  and  11  and the projection  13  are extended with flaps  17 ,  19  and  21 , respectively, which are intended to be folded down along folding lines  23 ,  25  and  27 , when the package is closed. 
         [0038]    Before folding, the sheet  1  further comprises intermediate zones  29 ,  31  and  33  which are arranged between the walls  9  and  11  and the flaps  17  and  19  thereof, between the wall  9  and the projection  13  and the flaps  17  and  21  thereof, and between the projection  13  and the wall  11  and the flaps  21  and  19  thereof, respectively. The lateral edges  35  and  37  of the projection  13  and the flap  21  extend the lateral edges  5  and  7  of the base  3 . 
         [0039]    The sheet  1  is also provided, at the side which is intended to form the inner face of the receptacle  2 , with two strips  51   a  and  51   b  for guiding tears. The sheet  1  and the strips  51   a  and  51   b  thus form a packaging element. 
         [0040]    The two strips  51   a  and  51   b  are, for example, produced from polyethylene (PET) and have a thickness which is strictly less than 36 μm, for example, 23 μm or 18 μm. The strips  51   a  and  51   b  have been thermowelded both to each other and to the sheet  1 . 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first strip  51   a  comprises a main portion  52   a  which extends substantially parallel with and along the edge  5  which extends along the base  3 . 
         [0042]    The main portion  52   a  is extended, in the projection  13 , with a first end  53   a  which is inclined, from the point of origin of the projection, relative to the edge  35  towards the centre axis A of the base  3 . This inclination is, for example, 10°. 
         [0043]    At the other side, the portion  52   a  is extended with a second end  55   a  which, in the example illustrated, is inclined by an angle α relative to the axis A. The angle α is, for example, between 15° and 25°. 
         [0044]    This second end  55   b  extends slightly through the second lateral wall  11 , then extends through the intermediate zone  29  and finally protrudes therefrom over a length l measured along the centre axis A of the base  3 . 
         [0045]    The second strip  51   b  has, in the region of the projection  13 , a form which is symmetrical with respect to that of the first strip  51   a  relative to the centre axis A. 
         [0046]    However, the main portion  52   b  of the strip  51   b  has a break  54   b  beyond which the main portion  52   b  is no longer substantially parallel with the edge  7  but instead intersects with it, so that the second end  55   b  of the strip  51   b  is located at the same side of the centre axis A as the end  55   a  of the strip  51   a.    
         [0047]    The main portions  52   a  and  52   b  meet each other at an intersection point  57  which is located, for example, in the intermediate zone  29 . This intersection point  57  is laterally spaced-apart from the centre axis A. 
         [0048]    Beyond the intersection point  57 , the ends  55   a  and  55   b  of the strips  51   a  and  51   b  are superimposed, the end  55   b  being arranged below the end  55   a  and having the same shape as the end  55   a.    
         [0049]    The ends  55   a  and  55   b  are heat-sealed to each other and heat-sealed to the sheet  1 . These two ends  55   a  and  55   b  therefore form a single traction tongue  58  which is laterally spaced-apart from the centre axis A and which protrudes from the intermediate zone  29  by the length l. 
         [0050]    In the example illustrated, this tongue  58  is rectilinear and inclined by the angle a relative to the centre axis A. 
         [0051]    In order to obtain the receptacle  2  of  FIG. 2  from the sheet  1 , the intermediate zones  31  and  33  which connect the lateral walls  9  and  11  and the projection  13  are folded from the base  3  at the centre thereof along the lines  59  and  61  which can be seen in  FIG. 1 . The triangular flaps  63  and  65  thus formed are folded respectively on the lateral walls  9  and  11  along the lateral edges  35  and  37  of the projection  13 . With regard to the intermediate zone  29  which supports the ends  55   a  and  55   b  it is also folded at the centre thereof along a folding line  67  ( FIG. 1 ) and the triangular flap  69  thus formed ( FIG. 2 ) is folded along the tip  15  on the first lateral wall  9 . 
         [0052]    The traction tongue  58  protrudes upwards beyond the folding line  23  and therefore beyond the first lateral wall  9 . 
         [0053]    In the receptacle  2  which is thus obtained a pre-determined quantity of molten cheese is poured in the hot state to a depth which is equal to the height of the lateral walls  9  and  11  and the projection  13  in order to constitute a portion  70  which is visible in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0054]    A second sheet  71  which has dimensions which correspond to those of the base  3 , is deposited on the portion  70 . This second sheet  71  is, for example, also produced from aluminium covered with heat-sealing lacquer. Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the flaps  17 ,  19  and  21  are folded down and sealed on the second sheet  71  in order to form a cover  72  opposite the base  3 . 
         [0055]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the tongue  58  can be folded down on the cover  72 , for example, during the sealing of the cover  72 . The tongue  58  thus forms a fold at right angles with the fold  23  which connects the first lateral wall  9  to the flap  17 , without nonetheless being pressed or adhesively-bonded with respect to the flap  17 . 
         [0056]    The tongue  58  is not sealed to the cover  72  and can therefore be more readily gripped by a consumer, even if he has short nails. 
         [0057]    If the tongue  58  is folded down during sealing, the heating of the tongue  58  and in particular the fold thereof, allows it to keep this shape after production. 
         [0058]    An assembly  73  is thus obtained which comprises a package  75 , formed from the sheets  1  and  71 , and the portion of soft cheese  70  packaged in the package  75 . 
         [0059]    In a variant, the tongue  58  can be folded down on the cover  72  not when the cover is sealed, but instead when the assembly  73  is placed in a casing. 
         [0060]    The package  75  is opened as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0061]    The consumer grips the tongue  58  which is not sealed to the flap  17 , then applies a traction movement thereto which is directed towards the base  3  and the projection  13 , as indicated by the arrow  77  in  FIG. 4 . The tongue  58  initiates tears substantially along the length of the tip  15 , rather than unfolding the flap  69  as in the prior art. 
         [0062]    Then, the traction continues in the same direction indicated by the arrow  77 . The tears which are brought about substantially along the length of the tip  15  are propagated and guided along the edges  5  and  7  of the base  3 . The remainder of the opening of the package  75  is carried out in conventional manner and is therefore not illustrated in the Figures. 
         [0063]    Owing to the fact that the traction tongue  58  is spaced-apart from the centre axis A in the sheet  1 , the initiation and the propagation of the tears does not involve any significant change in the traction direction as in FR-2 597 441. The opening is therefore logical and can be implemented by almost all consumers. 
         [0064]    Owing to the existence of a single traction tongue  58  in the sheet  1  and not two tongues  58  which are arranged at one side and the other of the common axis and which are intended to be superimposed during the folding of the sheet  1 , the risks of incorrectly gripping the traction tongue are reduced. 
         [0065]    Furthermore, since the tongue  58  is folded down on the cover  72  in the packaging  75 , the tongue is located and can be readily gripped by consumers. The tongue  58  was able to be folded down on the cover  72  since it protrudes beyond the first lateral wall  9  into the packaging  75 . 
         [0066]    In a variant, the tongue  58  may not be folded down or may not even protrude beyond the lateral wall  9 . The tongue  58  is arranged along the first wall  9  as in the prior art. 
         [0067]    In a variant, the tongue  58  may be formed by only one of the strips  51   a  and  51   b.    
         [0068]    In this manner, the second strip  51   b  may not have, beyond the intersection point  57 , an end  55   b  which is superimposed on the end  55   a . In yet another variant, the end  55   b  may not extend over the same length as the end  55   a.    
         [0069]    In yet other variants, the traction tongue  58  may have shapes other than those illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , and may, for example, not be rectilinear. 
         [0070]    In the same manner, in a variant, the intersection point  57  may be located in the second wall  11  or in the base  3  close to the intersection between the edges  5  and  7 . 
         [0071]    It is also possible, for example, for the strip  51   b  to have no break  54   b  in the main portion thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0072]    Furthermore, the strips  51   a  and  51   b  may be replaced with other forms of guiding means. 
         [0073]    In this manner, these may be local weakenings of the first sheet  1  obtained, for example, by means a wheel or a laser beam. 
         [0074]    Advantageously, the guiding strips  51   a  and  51   b  described above were obtained using an installation for cutting at least one film, as described below. 
         [0075]      FIG. 5  illustrates an installation  80  for cutting and sealing guiding strips  51   a  and  51   b  on sheets  1  which have been cut beforehand. 
         [0076]    The installation  80  comprises:
       a frame  81 , only parts of which have been illustrated in  FIG. 5 ,   means  82  for feeding sheets  1 , these sheets  1  being able to be cut or not in the installation  80 ,   means  83   a  and  83   b  for feeding films  84   a  and  84   b  of the material which constitutes the strips  51   a  and  51   b , these means allowing, for example, two rolls  86   a  and  86   b  of the films  84   a  and  84   b  to be unwound, and   a device  88  for cutting the films  84   a  and  84   b.          
 
         [0081]    The feeding means  83   a  and  83   b  are, for example, of the conventional type and may thus comprise traction rollers, as illustrated in document FR-2 362 765. 
         [0082]    They move the films  84   a  and  84   b  towards the blade  92  in a substantially horizontal manner. 
         [0083]    In the same manner, the feeding means  82  may have a conventional structure. 
         [0084]    The cutting device  88  comprises two lower blades  90   a  and  90   b  and an upper blade  92 . 
         [0085]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the upper blade  92 , in the example illustrated, has a substantially triangular shape which is extended in the region of the tip thereof by a tail  93 . The lateral sides  94   a  and  94   b  thereof which are directed towards the rollers  86   a  and  86   b , respectively, have, for example, reliefs of approximately 1.5° relative to the vertical. The lower edges  96   a  and  96   b  of the sides  94   a  and  94   b  form cutting edges whose profiles correspond to the shapes of the guiding strips  51   a  and  51   b  to be cut, respectively. 
         [0086]    The installation  80  comprises means  98  for moving the upper blade  92  relative to the frame  81  between an upper position which the blade  92  occupies before cutting and which is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and a lower position which the blade  92  occupies after cutting the strips  51   a  and  51   b.    
         [0087]    In the upper position of the blade  92 , the cutting edges  96   a  and  96   b  are located above the films  84   a  and  84   b , respectively. 
         [0088]    The cutting edges  96   a  and  96   b  are substantially horizontal and the movement of the blade  92  between the upper and the lower positions thereof is carried out in a substantially vertical manner, that is to say, substantially orthogonally relative to the plane of the films  84   a  and  84   b  when they are in the region of the upper blade  92 . 
         [0089]    As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the blade  92  is perforated in the region of the lateral sides  94   a  and  94   b  thereof with apertures  100   a  and  100   b  for drawing in the cut strips  51   a  and  51   b . These apertures are connected to a reduced pressure source which is not illustrated. 
         [0090]    The lower blades  90   a  and  90   b  are arranged below the films  84   a  and  84   b , respectively, at one side and the other of the upper blade  92 . Their sides  102   a  and  102   b , which face each other, have upper edges  104   a  and  104   b  which form cutting edges having shapes which complement those of the edges  96   a  and  96   b.    
         [0091]    The cutting edges  104   a  and  104   b  are arranged in the same plane which is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal, for example, by 5°. 
         [0092]    The lower blades  90   a  and  90   b  can be moved on the frame  81  substantially parallel with the plane of the films  84   a  and  84   b  when they are in the region of the upper blade  92 . 
         [0093]    In the example illustrated, the lower blades  90   a  and  90   b  are articulated to the frame  81  by means of pivots  106   a  and  106   b.    
         [0094]    The blades  90   a  and  90   b  can thus be moved between a mutually close position and a mutually remote position, the path of this movement being small, for example, in the order of 0.5 mm. 
         [0095]    The cutting device  88  comprises means  108   a  and  108   b  for resiliently returning the blades  90   a  and  90   b  to their mutually close position. 
         [0096]    In the example illustrated, these means are springs which are arranged laterally at the outer side of the blades  90   a  and  90   b , between the blades and the portions of the frame  81 . 
         [0097]    In other variants, these springs  108   a  and  108   b  may be replaced, for example, with a single spring  108  which connects the blades  90   a  and  90   b  to each other. 
         [0098]    Preferably, these resilient return means can be adjusted. 
         [0099]    Both in the upper position thereof, and in the lower position thereof, the upper blade  92  is interposed laterally between the lower blades  90   a  and  90   b.    
         [0100]    The return means  108   a  and  108   b  laterally press the blades  90   a  and  90   b  against the blade  92 . In this manner, the cutting edges  104   a  and  104   b  are pressed against the cutting edges  96   a  and  96   b  substantially parallel with the plane of the films  84   a  and  84   b  in the region of the blade  92  at points of contact  110   a  and  110   b  ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0101]    Furthermore, the installation  88  comprises an electronic control unit  112  for automatically controlling, in particular via the means  82 ,  83   a ,  83   b  and  98 , the execution of the cutting cycle described below. 
         [0102]    The upper blade  92  is initially in an upper position, the contact points  110   a  and  110   b  are remote from the tail  93  of the upper blade  92 . The lower blades  90   a  and  90   b  are in a mutually close position. 
         [0103]    Before the cutting operation itself begins, the feeding means  82  have placed a sheet  1  below the cutting device  88  and the feeding means  83   a  and  83   b  have caused the films  84   a  and  84   b  to move forward slightly so that a width which corresponds to that of the strips  51   a  and  51   b  extends from the cutting edges  104   a  and  104   b  laterally towards the upper blade  92 . 
         [0104]    The upper blade  92  is lowered and the contact points  110   a  and  110   b  move progressively towards the tail  93  of the upper blade  92 . 
         [0105]    The movement of the contact points  110   a  and  110   b  brings about the progressive cutting of the strips  51   a  and  51   b  which are retained by means of suction, as they are cut, below the upper blade  92  owing to the suction apertures  100   a  and  100   b.    
         [0106]    During this movement of the contact points  110   a  and  110   b , the insertion of the blade  92  between the lower blades  90   a  and  90   b  brings about their movement towards the mutually remote position thereof. 
         [0107]    Owing to the return means  108   a  and  108   b , the blades  90   a ,  90   b  and  92  are retained in a state pressed one against the other in the region of the contact points  110   a  and  110   b  substantially perpendicularly relative to the general directions in which the cuts are propagated in the films  84   a  and  84   b , thus producing a scissor type effect. The corresponding retention forces have been indicated by the arrows  114   a  and  114   b  in  FIG. 5  and the general propagation directions of the cuts have been indicated by the arrows  116   a  and  116   b.    
         [0108]    Following the cutting operation, the upper blade  92  continues its path as far as the lower position in which it presses the cut strips  51   a  and  51   b  against the sheet  1 . 
         [0109]    Heating means which are arranged in the frame  81  below the sheet  1  allow the strips  51   a  and  51   b  to be heat-sealed to each other and to the sheet  1 . 
         [0110]    Then, the upper blade  92  returns to its upper position, a new sheet  1  is placed below the device  88  and the films  84   a  and  84   b  are each moved forward by a distance which corresponds to the width of the strips  51   a  and  51   b.    
         [0111]    The cutting and sealing cycle is automatically repeated under the action of the unit  112 . 
         [0112]    Owing to the scissor type effect described above, it was possible to find that the guiding strips  51   a  and  51   b  are not crumpled during the cutting operation. This remains true even if the films  84   a  and  84   b  have extremely small thicknesses, for example, in the order of 23 μm or 18 μm. 
         [0113]    In this manner, the installation  80  of  FIG. 5  allows strips  51   a  and  51   b  having a small thickness to be produced, which facilitates the folding of the traction tongue  58  on the cover  72  in the package  75  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0114]    More generally, and regardless of the type of package in which the cut strips are used, the installation  80  allows films  84   a  and  84   b  having smaller thicknesses to be used, which significantly reduces the costs associated with the production of the tear guiding strips. 
         [0115]    It is therefore possible to use an installation which implements the scissor type effect described above in order to produce guiding strips having various forms. 
         [0116]    In the same manner, the cutting installation  80  may cut only a single guiding strip and not two simultaneously as in the example described above. 
         [0117]    In the example described above, the cutting device  88  is a module which may be disassembled from the frame  81  in order to be able to adjust the various elements and in particular the return means  108   a  and  108   b  thereof. 
         [0118]    If there are a plurality of cutting devices  88  provided for the same installation  80 , it is possible to adjust a device  88  whilst the other device  88  is installed and used in the installation  80 . 
         [0119]    More generally, the scissor type effect can be provided by displacing not the whole of one or more blades, but instead by deforming portions thereof. 
         [0120]    This is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in which the installation  80  further cuts only one strip  51 . 
         [0121]    The lower blade  90  is a blade which can be resiliently deformed in a horizontal manner. 
         [0122]    In the example illustrated, resilient return means  108   1  to  108   3  are used to return the blade  90  against the upper blade  92 . However, in yet another variant, the resilience of the lower blade  90  may be sufficient to dispense with means of this type and press the lower blade  90  against the upper blade  92 . The blade  90  itself forms the resilient return means.