Vacuum skin packaging

Abstract

A container for vacuum skin packaging a product is provided. The container includes a surface for supporting the product and one or more vacuum vents, wherein the one or more vacuum vents are separated from the supporting surface by one or more separation walls. A process for vacuum skin packaging a product using the container and a process for forming the container are also provided.

1 . A container for vacuum skin packaging a product, comprising a surface for supporting said product and one or more vacuum vents, wherein the one or more vacuum vents are separated from the supporting surface by one or more separation walls. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vacuum vents are formed in one or more walls of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more separation walls extend substantially perpendicularly from the one or more walls of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vacuum vents are located within a well, so as to isolate the one or more vacuum vents from the supporting surface. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vacuum vents are formed in a base of the well. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more separation walls comprise a single wall. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more separation walls comprise a plurality of walls. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more separation walls comprise two walls. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more separation walls comprise an air evacuation passage. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein the air evacuation passage is of greater dimensions than the one or more vacuum vents. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein the air evacuation passage comprises a recessed area. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vacuum vents are located in a plane extending from the supporting surface of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises one or more corners and one or more vacuum vents are located in each corner of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vacuum vents are located in one or more side walls of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vacuum vents comprise a hinged flap. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 1 , comprising a monolayer of material or multilayer sheet of material(s), said material(s) being selected from virgin or recycled polymeric material(s) such as virgin or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), carton board and pulp, aluminium, or plant-based plastic alternatives. 
     
     
         17 . A process for vacuum skin packaging a product, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a container according to  claim 1 ,   b) positioning the product onto a supporting surface of the container,   c) positioning a film above the product and the container,   d) evacuating air by application of vacuum so that the film contacts the product and the supporting surface of the container.   
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the container comprises one or more vacuum vents separated from the supporting surface by one or more separation walls and comprising the step of contacting the film to the one or more separation walls before contacting the film to the one or more vacuum vents. 
     
     
         19 . A process for forming a container according to  claim 17 , comprising the steps of:
 a) producing the container comprising the surface for supporting a product,   b) producing one or more separation walls,   c) producing the one or more vacuum vents, wherein the one or more vacuum vents are separated from the supporting surface by one or more separation walls.   
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 17 , comprising the step of thermoforming the container from a sheet of plastics material(s). 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 17 , comprising the step of thermoforming or stamping the one or more separation walls from a sheet of plastics material(s). 
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more vacuum vents comprise a hinged flap. 
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 17 , comprising the step of punching or perforating the container to form one or more vacuum vents. 
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the process is a continuous process.