Method for the vacuum skin packaging of products with irregular sharp surfaces

Abstract

A method for packaging products with mechanically abusive surfaces, such as crustaceans and shellfish, comprises the use of a twin film as the top skin film in vacuum skin packaging process. The twin film comprises at least two component films superimposed the one on the other and not welded, bonded, adhered, glued or sealed together. The invention also relates to a vacuum skin package comprising a food product selected from the group consisting of crustacean and shellfish loaded on a support and a twin skin film draped over the product and welded to the support.

1 . A vacuum skin packaging process comprising:
 placing a product-loaded support in a vacuum chamber having an upper dome, wherein a product is supported on the product-side surface of the support;   positioning a twin skin film above the product-loaded support within the vacuum chamber, wherein the twin skin film comprises two component films superimposed and un-welded to each other   drawing the twin skin film against the upper dome to heat the twin skin film;   vacuumizing the interior of the vacuum chamber and releasing the twin skin film from the upper dome to drape the twin skin film over the product and weld the twin skin film to the product-side surface of the support not covered by the product.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  in which the twin skin film does not comprise an oxygen scavenger film. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the two component films have substantially the same longitudinal and transversal dimensions. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising unwinding the twin skin film from a single roll. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising simultaneously unwinding each component film from a separate corresponding single roll before superimposing the two component films. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, 
 the each inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film, and 
 the inner surface of the first component film does not adhere to the inner surface of the second component film. 
 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; 
 the inner surface of one of the first and second films comprises HDPE and the inner surface of the other of the first and second films comprises ionomer. 
 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the component films is cross-linked. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; and 
 the inner surface of at least one of the component films is printed. 
 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the product comprises a food product with irregular and sharp surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the twin skin film does not comprise an oxygen scavenger film. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of crustaceans and shellfish. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the two component films of the twin skin film are welded to each other as the twin skin film is welded to the product-side surface of the support not covered by the product. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; and 
 the inner surface of one of the first and second films comprises cross-linked HDPE and the inner surface of the other of the first and second films comprises cross-linked LDPE. 
 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; and 
 the inner surface of one of the first and second films comprises ethylene homo- or co-polymer and the inner surface of the other of the first and second films comprises polypropylene. 
 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; and 
 the inner surface of one of the first and second films comprises ethylene homo- or co-polymer and the inner surface of the other of the first and second films comprises polyamide. 
 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; and 
 the inner surface of one of the first and second films comprises ethylene homo- or co-polymer and the inner surface of the other of the first and second films comprises EVOH. 
 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; and 
 the inner surface of one of the first and second films comprises ethylene homo- or co-polymer and the inner surface of the other of the first and second films comprises PETG. 
 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1  wherein:
 the twin skin film comprises first and second component films; 
 each of the first and second component films comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the inner surface of the first component film faces and contacts the inner surface of the second component film; and 
 the inner surface of one of the first and second films comprises ethylene homo- or co-polymer and the inner surface of the other of the first and second films comprises ethylene/norbornene copolymer.