Dishware Unit and Method for Sealing Partially Prepared Meals

Abstract

The invention relates to a dishware unit for packaging, transporting, and/or serving meals and to a method for sealing at least partially prepared meals, comprising a body which is covered with a film. An adhesive is introduced between the film and the body in an adhesive region in order to seal the dishware unit. The film and the dishware unit have such a degree of surface tension that the adhesive at least largely adheres to the film when the film is removed, wherein the surface tension in the adhesive region in the film is greater than the surface tension in the adhesive region in the body.

1 . A tray unit, particularly a dish, for the packaging, transport, and/or consumption of foods, with a film covering a body, wherein an adhesive for sealing the tray unit is present between the film and the body in an adhesive region, characterized in that the film and the tray unit have a surface tension such that the adhesive adheres at least predominantly on the film upon removing the film, wherein the surface tension in the adhesive region ( 8 ) in the film ( 15 ) is greater than the surface tension in the adhesive region ( 8 ) in the body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         2 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has at least one base section and at least one edge section and wherein the adhesive region is configured in the edge section. 
     
     
         3 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the edge section is raised at least in the adhesive region with respect to the base section. 
     
     
         4 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein there is configured in the body an application surface for the adhesive, which is provided by the adhesive region. 
     
     
         5 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the body (the tray unit) is essentially made of at least a ceramic-type material and wherein the body is particularly made at least partially of magnesium oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the film is made of a plastic material and has a thickness of between 50 μm and 150 μm. 
     
     
         7 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the film is made at least partially of a material such as polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         8 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower side of the film is attached to the body and wherein the surface tension in the lower side of the film is modified by means of a surface treatment. 
     
     
         9 . The tray unit according to  claim 8 , wherein at least a part of the lower side of the film is surface treated by means of a corona treatment. 
     
     
         10 . The tray unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the type, the intensity, and the duration of the surface treatment depend on the surface tension to be set. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one food is arranged in the body and covered by the film and wherein an intermediate space presents a partial vacuum. 
     
     
         13 . The tray unit according to  claim 12 , wherein a gas mixture which is made up of more than 50% CO 2 , more than 10% N 2 , and less than 10% O 2  is present in the intermediate space. 
     
     
         14 . The tray unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the composition of the gas mixture is adapted to the food arranged in the body. 
     
     
         15 . The tray unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the percentage of O 2  in the gas mixture is greater than 2% or between 3% and 10%. 
     
     
         16 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding film is cut contactless outside the body. 
     
     
         17 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied by means of an adhesive application machine comprising nozzles and/or stationary elements such as, for example, scrapers, and/or rotary elements such as, for example, rollers. 
     
     
         18 . The tray unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The tray unit according to  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive is a polyolefin-based adhering hot-melt adhesive and at 160° C. has a viscosity greater than 1500 millipascal-seconds. 
     
     
         20 . A method for sealing at least partially prepared foods, in which the foods are positioned in a tray unit and covered with a film, characterized in that an adhesive ( 21 ) is applied in an adhesive region of the tray unit and a film is adhered thereto and in that a surface tension of the film and/or of the tray unit is influenced such that the adhesive remains adhere at least predominantly on the film when tearing the film off, wherein the surface tension in the adhesive region in the film is greater than the surface tension in the adhesive region in the body. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the lower side of the film being glued to the tray unit is at least partially surface treated to increase the surface tension of the film. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the adhesive is applied in the adhesive region of the tray unit by means of rolling, wiping, scraping, and/or spraying. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the partial vacuum is generated in an intermediate space between the tray unit and the film, and/or wherein at least a partial gas exchange is carried out in the intermediate space. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one inert gas is added.