Cryovac, LLC

The present invention relates to a method, to a biodegradable film and to a package for cheese ripening or preservation, in particular for ripening hard or semi-hard cheese, preferably rind cheese. This method, thanks to the peculiar transmission properties of the film, provides cheese more similar to naturally ripened cheese, with a minor loss of water, due to evaporation, with reduced mold and yeast growth, and without significant flavor, consistency and color deviations.

A tray for containing a product includes a base, a lateral wall emerging from the base to define a containing seat adapted to receive the product. The lateral wall comprises at least one movable portion configurable between a first stable position, wherein the movable portion is placed in continuity with respect to the lateral wall, and a second stable position, wherein the movable portion protrudes from the lateral wall and defines an access passing through the lateral wall itself. Moreover, the present invention refers to a process and an associated apparatus of making said tray. Further, the present invention refers to a vacuum package using the above described tray and to a plastic film sealingly applied on the tray and closing the access, and also to a process and a packaging apparatus for making said package.

An apparatus ( 10 ) for vacuumizing and sealing a package ( 322 ) includes a plurality of platens ( 12 ) and vacuum chambers ( 14 ), each chamber ( 14 ) adapted to mate with a dedicated one of the platens ( 12 ); a conveying system ( 16 ) for conveying the platens ( 12 ) and chambers ( 14 ) along a generally angular path having a single axis of rotation ( 18 ); an automated loading assembly ( 20 ) having a linear component ( 22 c ) and configured to load a package ( 322 ) onto each of the platens ( 12 ); an automated unloading assembly ( 26 ) having a linear portion and configured to unload a vacuumized, sealed package ( 322 ) from each loaded platen ( 12 ) onto an outfeed conveyor ( 30 ); and a vacuumizing/sealing system configured to cause relative movement of each chamber ( 14 )/platen ( 12 ) pair, along a portion of the angular path, to form therebetween an air-tight enclosure accommodating the package ( 322 ) and effect vacuumization and sealing of the package ( 322 ).

A process for packaging a product arranged on a support comprising unrolling a film, moving the film to a packaging assembly defining at its inside a packaging chamber, progressively moving a number of supports inside the packaging chamber of the packaging assembly, closing the packaging chamber with the film sheets held above the respective support, optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film to said support, wherein the heat sealing uses one or more heaters having heating surfaces which are heated for discrete and short time periods only. An apparatus for performing the above process is also disclosed.

A dispenser ( 5 ) comprising a body ( 10 ) and a removable magazine ( 11 ) in which a product pouch ( 175 ) is held. The body ( 10 ) and magazine ( 11 ) form an asymmetric interior volume similar to the shape of the pouch ( 175 ). The dispenser( 5 ) includes a grip ( 28 ) and actuator ( 30 ) at an actuator end and a ratcheting drive system disposed on opposite sides of the interior volume. The drive system applies a symmetric pushing force on a squeeze pusher ( 32 ) that is slidably disposed in the interior volume. The squeeze pusher ( 32 ) applies pressure to the pouch ( 175 ) to dispense the product. The magazine ( 11 ) and pouch ( 175 ) may be ejected once the squeeze pusher ( 32 ) is ratcheted to the dispensing end. Once ejected, the squeeze pusher ( 32 ) is disengaged from the drive system. A magazine ( 11 ) with a new pouch ( 175 ) may be inserted into the body ( 10 ), which automatically positions the squeeze pusher ( 32 ) at the actuating end and reengages the drive system for further dispensing.

A device ( 1 ) for evacuating gas from a package ( 50 ) in a packaging apparatus, the package ( 50 ) having an open end ( 55 ), the open end ( 55 ) having a terminal portion ( 54 ), a non-terminal portion ( 52 ), and an intermediate portion ( 53 ) located between the terminal portion ( 54 ) and the non-terminal portion ( 52 ) of the open end ( 55 ), the device ( 1 ) comprising a vacuum chamber ( 10 ) having an elongated opening ( 14 ) extending along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum chamber ( 10 ), an evacuation means configured for providing the vacuum chamber ( 10 ) with an internal vacuum pressure that is lower than an ambient pressure outside the vacuum chamber ( 10 ), means for moving ( 30 ) a package ( 50 ) relative to the vacuum chamber ( 10 ), and a control unit ( 60 ) programmed for controlling the means for moving ( 30 ) to relatively move a package ( 50 ) to be evacuated with respect to the vacuum chamber ( 10 ), the package ( 50 ) and the means for moving ( 30 ) each being arranged with respect to the vacuum chamber ( 10 ) so that a main movement direction ( 40 ) of packages ( 50 ) placed on the means for moving ( 30 ) and the longitudinal axis of the vacuum chamber ( 10 ) are substantially parallel to one another, the package ( 50 ) to be evacuated being positioned so that, during the relative movement of the package ( 50 ) with respect to the vacuum chamber ( 10 ), a terminal portion ( 54 ) of the open end ( 55 ) of the package ( 50 ) relatively moves within the vacuum chamber ( 10 ) and a non-terminal portion ( 52 ) of the open end ( 55 ) relatively moves outside the vacuum chamber ( 10 ), an intermediate portion ( 53 ) of the open end ( 55 ) passing through and relatively moving along the opening ( 14 ), and activating the evacuation means to provide the vacuum chamber ( 10 ) with the internal vacuum pressure. A packaging process using the gas evacuation device and a packaging apparatus including the device are also disclosed.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed generally to multilayer films suitable for use in forming pouches, such as (but not limited to) bioprocessing pouches. When used in the formation of solution pouches, the disclosed films help prevent or reduce the number of seal failures, such as during transportation or use. The disclosed films comprise first and second vibration dampening layers and first and second barrier layers.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a pouch for cooking a food product and a method of making a pouch for cooking The pouch for cooking a food product may have a film, a longitudinal seal so as to form a sealed tube, a first transverse seal at a first end of the pouch, and a second transverse seal at a second end of the pouch. The pouch may have a surface area to food product volume ratio from 3:1 to 9:1. The pouch may have at least one layer with at least 5% polybutylene. The longitudinal seal may extend from the first end of the pouch to the second end of the pouch. The longitudinal seal may seal the film to itself.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of making a foam. The disclosed formulation has a first part with at least one multifunctional acrylate. The disclosed formulations have a second part with at least one non-isocyanate polyurethane oligomer derived from a reaction of at least one multifunctional cyclocarbonate and at least one first multifunctional amine, and a second multifunctional amine. The formulation may also have a blowing agent and at least one surfactant.

An inkjet receptive composition for use on glossy paper substrates may include a polymer binder, a multivalent salt, a pigment, a surfactant, a defoamer, and water. The polymer may be a polyurethane dispersion. The multivalent salt may be calcium chloride, and the water may be present in an amount greater than about 40 wt %. The inkjet receptive composition may have a viscosity in the range of about 3 and about 500 cP.