Packaging employing both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films

Abstract

A product package includes a product receiving cavity formed from a first, heat shrinkable film and a second, non-heat shrinkable film sealed to the first, heat shrinkable film. The second film can be provided with indicia which remains intact following completion of the product packaging. In accordance with a method aspect of the invention, the package is produced utilizing a form, fill and seal system. In one embodiment, a soft, deformable refrigerated dough is packaged.

1 . A method of packaging a product comprising:
 loading product in a product receiving cavity defined between first and second films;   sealing the second film to the first film about the product receiving cavity to create a package containing the product; and   heating the package to cause the first film to shrink at least 5% about the product while the second film exhibits no appreciable shrinkage.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heating the package causes the first film to shrink between 5-50%. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first film is shrunk between 7-38%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first film is shrunk between 13-27%. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: providing indicia on the second film, wherein the indicia remains intact after the package is heated. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is soft, deformable product. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the product is a refrigerated dough. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the product receiving cavity is completely sealed and the refrigerated dough expands within the package, causing the internal pressure to increase relative to ambient pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging is performed with a horizontal form, fill and seal assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 forming the product receiving cavity in the first film; and   positioning the second film across the product receiving cavity after loading the product in the product receiving cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: thermoforming the product receiving cavity in the first film. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the package is heated through conduction heating. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the package is heated by contacting the package with a hot fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the package is heated through at least one of radiant and convection heating. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second film is sealed to the first film while maintaining a vent for the package such that, upon shrinking of the first film, the first film conforms to a shape of the product in the product receiving cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A product package comprising:
 a product receiving cavity formed, at least in part, from a first, heat shrinkable film;   a product within the product receiving cavity; and   an indicia containing second, non-heat shrinkable film sealed to the first, heat shrinkable film, thereby retaining the product in the product receiving cavity, wherein the first, heat shrinkable film is shrunk about the product, while the second, non-heat shrinkable film retains the indicia intact.   
     
     
         17 . The product package according to  claim 16 , wherein the product is a soft, deformable product. 
     
     
         18 . The product package according to  claim 17 , wherein the product comprises a refrigerated dough. 
     
     
         19 . The product package according to  claim 18 , wherein the product receiving cavity is completely sealed and the refrigerated dough expands within the package such that the package has an internal pressure greater than ambient pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The product package according to  claim 16 , wherein the package is vented such that the first film is shrunk to conform to a shape of the product in the product receiving cavity.