(19)
(11) EP 1 842 776 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
31.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/44

(43) Date of publication A2:
10.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/41

(21) Application number: 07104527.2

(22) Date of filing: 20.03.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65B 31/02(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30) Priority: 05.04.2006 IT BO20060249

(71) Applicant: A.W.A.X. PROGETTAZIONE E RICERCA S.r.l.
41058 Vignola (Modena) (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • Rimondi, Renato
    40053 Bazzano (IT)

(74) Representative: Porsia, Dino et al
c/o Succ. Ing. Fischetti & Weber Via Caffaro 3/2
16124 Genova
16124 Genova (IT)

   


(54) Apparatus for packaging trays containing products in a modified atmosphere


(57) The apparatus comprises a horizontal drawer (3) with an opening (103) through which the body of the tray to be packaged can pass, said tray with its edge (B) resting on the upper, horizontal and flat side of an annular rim (1) which surrounds the said opening and, around this rim, the drawer has a continuous annular channel (4), the outer shoulder (104) of which has a height greater than that of the inner shoulder and opens out on the upper side (203) of the said drawer which is thus at a height greater than that of the said rim (1) and the upper edge (B) of the tray positioned on the latter. Means are envisaged for extending over the upper side of the said drawer with the tray inside it a length of barrier film (112) and foil-pressing means (17) are envisaged for pressing, when operated, the film onto the upper side of the drawer (3), at a due distance from the outer shoulder of the said annular channel (4), all of which so as to form a packaging chamber (C) which is substantially closed with respect to the exterior and is defined at the bottom by the tray (V), at the top by the said barrier film and along the sides by the said annular channel (4) which has along at least one side one or more openings (7) through which, upon operation, the modified atmosphere may be blown into the said chamber (C), while on the opposite side of the said annular channel (4) one or more discharge openings (10) are provided, through which openings firstly the air contained inside the tray, pushed by the front edge of the incoming modified atmosphere, is able to pass out and also part of the said modified atmosphere can pass out. Once packaging of the said chamber has been completed, a heat-welding plate (21) is lowered and pushed onto the edge (B) of the tray so as to heat-weld onto the latter the said closing film (112) and trap in the packaging thus formed the quantity of modified atmosphere useful for conserving the product, following which, after the heat-welding, cutting means (27) are activated and separate from the film the closed tray.







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