Pack containing a food product and method for packaging food products

Abstract

A pack comprising a supporting tray (3), a protective film (4) fixed to the supporting tray (3), and a food product (2) placed on the supporting tray (3) and covered by the protective film (4), wherein the supporting tray (3) is constituted of a flat sheet of multi-layer material and comprises at least one paper-based lower layer and one plastic material upper layer, wherein the protective film (4) is sealed to the upper layer of the flat sheet and together with it delimits an inner space (6) of the pack (1) in which the food product (2) is inserted, and wherein a protective atmosphere is present in the inner space (6).

1 . A pack containing a food product comprising:
 a supporting tray ( 3 );   a protective film ( 4 ) fixed to the supporting tray ( 3 ); and   a food product ( 2 ) placed on the supporting tray ( 3 ) and covered by the protective film ( 4 );   
       wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) is constituted of a flat sheet of multi-layer material and comprises at least one paper-based lower layer and one plastic material upper layer, wherein the protective film ( 4 ) is sealed to the upper layer of the flat sheet, wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) and the protective film ( 4 ) delimit, in an oxygentight way, an inner space ( 6 ) of the pack ( 1 ) in which the food product ( 2 ) is inserted, and wherein a protective atmosphere is present in the inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         2 . The pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the inner space ( 6 ) of the pack ( 1 ) is equal to an atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the inner space ( 6 ) of the pack ( 1 ) is greater than the standard atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper layer is constituted of polypropylene or polyethylene, and wherein both the multi-layer sheet and the protective film ( 4 ) comprise at least one layer of material suitable for constituting a barrier to oxygen. 
     
     
         5 . The pack according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper layer is constituted of polypropylene or polyethylene, and wherein both the multi-layer sheet and the protective film ( 4 ) comprise at least one layer of material suitable for constituting a barrier to oxygen. 
     
     
         6 . The pack according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper layer is constituted of polypropylene or polyethylene, and wherein both the multi-layer sheet and the protective film ( 4 ) comprise at least one layer of material suitable for constituting a barrier to oxygen. 
     
     
         7 . The pack according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) and the protective film ( 4 ) delimit the oxygentight inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         8 . The pack according to  claim 2 , wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) and the protective film ( 4 ) delimit the oxygentight inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         9 . The pack according to  claim 3 , wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) and the protective film ( 4 ) delimit the oxygentight inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         10 . The pack according to  claim 4 , wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) and the protective film ( 4 ) delimit the oxygentight inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         11 . The pack according to  claim 5 , wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) and the protective film ( 4 ) delimit the oxygentight inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         12 . The pack according to  claim 6 , wherein the supporting tray ( 3 ) and the protective film ( 4 ) delimit the oxygentight inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         13 . A method for packaging food products ( 2 ) comprising the operating steps of:
 taking a supporting tray ( 3 ) constituted of a flat sheet of multi-layer material which in turn comprises at least one paper-based lower layer, one plastic material upper layer and, optionally, one middle layer suitable for constituting a barrier to oxygen;   positioning a food product ( 2 ) on the upper layer of the supporting tray ( 3 );   positioning a protective film ( 4 ) over the food product ( 2 ) and the supporting tray ( 3 );   creating a protective atmosphere at an inner space ( 6 ) located between the protective film ( 4 ) and the supporting tray ( 3 ); and   maintaining the protective atmosphere between the protective film ( 4 ) and the supporting tray ( 3 ), sealing the protective film ( 4 ) to the upper layer of the supporting tray ( 3 ) at least along an annular frame ( 5 ) that completely surrounds the food product ( 2 ).   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein, during the steps of creating a protective atmosphere and of sealing the protective film ( 4 ), an atmospheric pressure is maintained in the inner space ( 6 ). 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein, during the steps of creating a protective atmosphere and of sealing the protective film ( 4 ), a pressure greater than the standard atmospheric pressure is maintained in the inner space ( 6 ).