초록 ▼

A thermoformed container having a granular product therein being made from two webs of films of flexible material is provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a web of flexible film material is thermoformed into a series of cup-shaped containers, each cup having a peripheral fl

A thermoformed container having a granular product therein being made from two webs of films of flexible material is provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a web of flexible film material is thermoformed into a series of cup-shaped containers, each cup having a peripheral flange around its mouth. The cups are then partially filled with a granular product such that there is a headspace between the product\s top surface and the cup\s peripheral flange. The cups are then placed in a vacuum/sealing/shaping chamber wherein substantially all the air inside the cups is removed, followed by sealing an upper web of flexible film material to each cups\s peripheral flange. Before the sealed containers are removed from the vacuum/sealing/shaping chamber, a shaping die located in the bottom of the chamber is thrust upwardly into each cup\s bottom wall. The shaping die forces the granular product up into the headspace and pushes the cup\s excess film material upwardly, thereby forming a concave impression or dome in the cup\s bottom wall and subsequently reducing the amount of film wrinkling exhibited by the containers. The chamber is then returned to atmospheric pressure before the containers are removed. Atmospheric pressure holds the containers in this pre-selected solid shape, which is not only easy to handle in subsequent operations, but much more aesthetically pleasing than if the containers were not given a preselected shape. In addition, the reduced wrinkling of the lower cup\s film material significantly increases the container\s scuff and abrasion resistance.

대표청구항 ▼

A sealed, thermoformed container comprised of non-shape retaining flexible film, but exhibiting a preselected, substantially solid shape, said container having a granular product therein and being substantially free of gases, said container comprising: (a) a lower cup defining a hollow cavity of pre

A sealed, thermoformed container comprised of non-shape retaining flexible film, but exhibiting a preselected, substantially solid shape, said container having a granular product therein and being substantially free of gases, said container comprising: (a) a lower cup defining a hollow cavity of preselected size and shape thermoformed from a non-shape retaining flexible film, said lower cup having an upper peripheral flange and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being provided with a concave impression also of preselected size and shape extending into said hollow cavity at a preselected location; (b) a predetermined quantity of said granular product contained within said hollow cavity and having a top surface in the form of a composite of the uppermost granules of said product; and (c) a substantially planar top lid having a distal edge and a bottom surface, said distal edge being continuously and releasably sealed about said upper peripheral flange of said lower cup, said bottom surface of said substantially planar lid being in continuous contacting relation with said top surface of said predetermined quantity of granular product, whereby atmospheric pressure acting upon the exterior surfaces of said sealed, substantially gas-free container maintains said container in said preselected, substantially solid shape until said container is opened.