Method for the preferably continuous packaging of products

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the preferably continuous packaging of products, in particular foods, with or without an already stabilized inherent shape such as fresh meat, meat products and sausage products, sausage meat emulsion or similar products by encasing them on all sides with single-layer or multilayer films that can be fed from the web. According to the invention flexible films that can be deformed without the action of heating and are self-resetting, are used as bottom web films, wherein the bottom web films are temporarily deformed by the action of pressure in order to form troughs for receiving product. The respective product is introduced as portions into the trough and fixed there, wherein it is fixed by a top web film or covering film, optionally supported by a restrainer. When the action of pressure is released, preferably the bottom web film performs its resetting process and encloses the product thereby at least in part in such a manner that unwanted air inclusions are removed and also a certain product compaction occurs. Then, sealing between top and bottom web films is performed.

1 . Method for the continuous packaging of foods with or without an already stabilized natural shape, by encasing them on all sides with a single-layer or multi-layer film which can be fed from a web,
 characterized in that
 flexible films are used as lower film and/or upper film, which are deformable without the influence of heat and are self-restoring, wherein at least one of the films is temporarily deformed by the influence of pressure so as to form a trough for receiving a product, wherein 
 the respective product is introduced in portions into the trough and fixed there, the fixing being accomplished by the associated upper film or cover film, wherein 
 as soon as the pressure influence stops the respective film performs its restoring process, thereby enclosing the product at least partially, wherein the product is enclosed in such a way that undesired air inclusions are removed, and sealing between the upper film and the lower film is performed subsequently. 
   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   for deaeration purposes the upper film is connected to the lower film section-wise in a first step, and completely and tightly in a second step.   
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   a rinsing and/or filling process with a protective gas is carried out after or during the deaeration process.   
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the pressure influence is realized by generating a negative pressure at the outer side of the lower film.   
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4 ,
 characterized in that   the generation of the negative pressure and thus the shaping is supported by a selective pressure gas supply to the inner side of the film.   
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 3 ,
 characterized in that   the rinsing and/or filling process is accelerated by applying a vacuum in the area of the temporarily deformed film.   
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   means for the direct or indirect electrical heating of the products received in the temporarily deformed film are provided on or in one of the films used.   
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 ,
 characterized in that   the products respectively located in the deformed film are resistance-heated and/or high-frequency-heated, wherein the step of heating can be carried out both immediately after the packaging and before the later product removal.   
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 7 ,
 characterized in that   a support mold is used during the thermal treatment.   
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the temporarily deformed film for the formation of troughs is realized by vacuum molds that move along with the film tape.   
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the upper film and/or cover film used is made of a flexible material, in particular a material analogous or similar to the lower film.   
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 7 ,
 characterized in that   the means for heating comprise contacts in the area of the sealed seam.