Improvements in or relating to the packaging of food

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements in or relating to the packaging of food 36 between a first plastic film 16 and a second plastic film 18 using a packaging apparatus 10 . A tray 24 is formed from the first plastic film 16 , the tray having a floor 33 with at least one channel 32 . An absorbent pad 34 is provided on the floor 33 of the tray 24 . A portion of food 36 is provided on the floor 33 of the tray 24 . The second plastic film 18 is placed on the tray 24 to sandwich the absorbent pad 34 and the portion of food 36 between the plastic films 16, 18 . The packaging apparatus 10 is operated to urge the two plastic films 16, 18 together and to create a seal therebetween. At least one duct 76 is formed between said at least one channel 32 and at least one of the second plastic film 18 , the absorbent pad 34 , and the portion of food 36.

1 . A method of packaging food between a first plastic film and a second plastic film using a packaging apparatus, the method including;
 forming a tray from the first plastic film, the tray having a floor with at least one channel;   providing an absorbent pad on the floor of the tray;   placing a portion of food on the floor of the tray;   placing the second plastic film on the tray to sandwich the absorbent pad and the portion of food between the plastic films; and   using the packaging apparatus to urge the two plastic films together and to create a seal therebetween, wherein at least one duct is formed between said at least one channel and at least one of the second plastic film, the absorbent pad, and the portion of food.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , and further including cutting the two films to create a separate package containing the portion of food and the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , and further including providing the absorbent pad on the floor of the tray so that it at least partially covers at least a part of said at least one channel. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including placing the portion of food on the floor of the tray so that it at least partially covers a part of said at least one channel. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including placing the portion of food on the floor of the tray so that it is at least partially on the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , and further including placing the portion of food on the floor of the tray so that it wholly covers the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including forming the tray with a continuous lip around the portion of food, said at least one channel and the absorbent pad, the lip for providing a continuous seal between the plastic films. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including forming the floor of the tray with a plurality of channels for providing a plurality of ducts between the plurality of channels and at least one of the second plastic film, the absorbent pad, and the portion of food. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , and further including forming the plurality of channels so that the ducts are in communication with one another. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including forming said at least one channel using a row or a grid of raised portions of the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including forming the tray with a sidewall extending from the floor. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the method is provided as a continuous process. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first plastic film and/or the second plastic film are provided on respective feed reels. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the portion of food is fish. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including using the packaging apparatus to urge the two plastic films together by applying a partial vacuum above the second plastic film and below the first plastic film, and then venting a region above the second plastic film to atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including using the packaging apparatus to apply heat to at least partially bond the two plastic films together. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to any preceding claim, and further including forming a well in the floor of the tray, wherein the well is in communication with the at least one channel. 
     
     
         18 . A method as substantially described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1-9  of the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
         19 . A package of food produced using the method according to any preceding claim. 
     
     
         20 . A package containing a portion of food, the package comprising a tray, a plastic film and an absorbent pad, the tray having a floor with at least one channel, the absorbent pad and the portion of food being provided on the floor of the tray, the plastic film being formed onto the tray to sandwich the absorbent pad and the portion of food between the plastic film and the tray to create a seal therebetween, wherein at least one duct is formed between said at least one channel and at least one of the plastic film, the absorbent pad, and the portion of food. 
     
     
         21 . A package according to  claim 20 , wherein the absorbent pad at least partially covers at least a part of said at least one channel. 
     
     
         22 . A package according to  claim 20  or  21 , wherein the portion of food on the floor of the tray at least partially covers a part of said at least one channel. 
     
     
         23 . A package according to  claim 20 ,  21  or  22 , wherein the portion of food on the floor of the tray is at least partially on the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         24 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 23 , wherein the portion of food on the floor of the tray wholly covers the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         25 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 24 , wherein the tray has a continuous lip around the portion of food, said at least one channel and the absorbent pad, the lip for providing a continuous seal between the plastic films. 
     
     
         26 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 25 , wherein the floor of the tray has a plurality of channels for providing a plurality of ducts between the plurality of channels and at least one of the second plastic film, the absorbent pad, and the portion of food. 
     
     
         27 . A package according to  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of channels run along the length of the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         28 . A package according to  claim 26  or  27 , wherein the plurality of channels run along to the width of the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         29 . A package according to any of  claims 26 - 28 , wherein the plurality of channels are provided so that the ducts are in communication with one another. 
     
     
         30 . A package according to any of  claims 26 - 29 , wherein a spacing between adjacent channels is between 0.5 cm and 2.0 cm, and preferably 1.0 cm. 
     
     
         31 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 30 , wherein said at least one channel is provided by a row or a grid of raised portions of the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         32 . A package according to  claim 31 , wherein the raised portions are discrete projections from the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         33 . A package according to  claim 32 , wherein each raised portion has an apex. 
     
     
         34 . A package according to  claim 33 , wherein each apex has an area of between 0.75 to 2.5 mm 2 . 
     
     
         35 . A package according to any of  claims 31 - 34 , wherein each raised portion has at least one face which is concave. 
     
     
         36 . A package according to any of  claims 31 - 35 , each raised portion has a height of between 1.0 mm and 7.0 mm, and preferably 3.6 mm. 
     
     
         37 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 36 , wherein the tray has a sidewall extending from the floor. 
     
     
         38 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 36 , wherein the portion of food is fish. 
     
     
         39 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 38 , wherein the absorbent pad is provided on a part or the whole of the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         40 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 39 , wherein one or both of the plastic film and the tray are of thermoforming material. 
     
     
         41 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 40 , wherein the tray is an opaque plastic. 
     
     
         42 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 41 , wherein at least a part of the plastic film is a see-through plastic film. 
     
     
         43 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 42 , wherein the plastic film is formed onto the tray by applying a partial vacuum above the plastic film and below the tray, and then venting a region above the plastic film to atmospheric pressure to urge the plastic film and the tray together. 
     
     
         44 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 43 , wherein the plastic film is at least partially bonded to the tray with the application of heat. 
     
     
         45 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 44 , wherein the floor of the tray has a well in communication with the at least one channel. 
     
     
         46 . A package according to any of  claims 20 - 45 , wherein the plastic film is a breathable film. 
     
     
         47 . A package as substantially described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1-9  of the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
         48 . A packaging apparatus for packaging a portion of food and an absorbent pad between a tray and a plastic film, the tray having a floor with at least one channel, the absorbent pad being located on the floor of the tray, the portion of food being located on the floor of the tray, the plastic film being located on the tray to sandwich the absorbent pad and the portion of food between the tray and the plastic film, the packaging apparatus operable to urge the tray and the plastic film together and to create a seal therebetween, wherein at least one duct is formed between said at least one channel and at least one of the second plastic film, the absorbent pad, and the portion of food. 
     
     
         49 . An apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein the tray is formed by a mould of the apparatus from a first plastic film. 
     
     
         50 . An apparatus according to  claim 48  or  49 , wherein one or both of the films are provided on respective feed reels. 
     
     
         51 . An apparatus according to  claim 48 ,  49  or  50 , having a blade to cut the tray and the plastic film to create a separate package containing the portion of food and the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         52 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 51 , arranged to provide the absorbent pad on the floor of the tray so that it at least partially covers at least a part of said at least one channel. 
     
     
         53 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 52 , arranged to place the portion of food on the floor of the tray so that it is at least partially covers a part of said at least one channel. 
     
     
         54 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 53 , arranged to place the portion of food on the floor of the tray so that it is at least partially on the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         55 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 54 , arranged to place the portion of food on the floor of the tray so that it wholly covers the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         56 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 55 , the tray being formed with a continuous lip around the portion of food, said at least one channel and the absorbent pad, the apparatus being arranged to form a continuous seal between the lip and the plastic film. 
     
     
         57 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 56 , arranged to form said at least one channel using a row or a grid of raised portions of the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         58 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 57 , arranged to form the floor of the tray with a plurality of channels for providing a plurality of ducts between the plurality of channels and at least one of the plastic film, the absorbent pad, and the portion of food. 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus according to  claim 58 , arranged to form the plurality of channels so that the ducts are in communication with one another. 
     
     
         60 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 59 , arranged for packaging successive portions of food as a continuous process. 
     
     
         61 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 60 , operable to urge the plastic film onto the tray by applying a partial vacuum above the plastic film and below the tray, and then venting a region above the plastic film to atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         62 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 61 , operable to bond the plastic at least partially bonded to the tray with the application of heat. 
     
     
         63 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 48 - 62 , wherein the floor of the tray has a well in communication with the at least one channel. 
     
     
         64 . A package according to any of  claims 48 - 63 , wherein the plastic film is a breathable film. 
     
     
         65 . An apparatus as substantially described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1-9  of the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
         66 . An apparatus for performing the method according to any of  claims 1 - 17 , 
     
     
         67 . An apparatus for making the package according to any of  claims 19 - 46 .