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A process for packaging a food product such as soft ice-cream, frozen yogurt or the like in a single-serving package comprises a continuous in-line system in which a pot (9) is formed in a deformable bottom web (2) of plastics material and a lid (12) with dispensing aperture (14) is formed in a top

A process for packaging a food product such as soft ice-cream, frozen yogurt or the like in a single-serving package comprises a continuous in-line system in which a pot (9) is formed in a deformable bottom web (2) of plastics material and a lid (12) with dispensing aperture (14) is formed in a top web (4) of plastics material. Food product is filled into the formed pot and the webs are brought together in register with a lid aligned over the mouth of the pot. The lid is sealed to the pot at a sealing station and the aperture in the lid is covered and sealed with a peel-off tab or label (16). To dispense the product for consumption, the tab is removed and the product is extruded by pressing down on the deformable pot to collapse it, forcing the product through the aperture in the lid. To facilitate this, at least a portion of the lid is formed so as to be sufficiently rigid as to provide a bearing surface toward which the pot can be collapsed. In an alternative arrangement, the bearing surface can be provided by a rigid insert (34) placed in the package between the food product and the lid and in this case the lid may be formed from a flimsy material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process for packaging a food product comprising:a) advancing a base web of thermoformable material to a forming station and thermoforming a portion of the web at the forming station into at least one pot; andb) transferring the web with formed pot to a filling station and filling the pot with t

1. A process for packaging a food product comprising:a) advancing a base web of thermoformable material to a forming station and thermoforming a portion of the web at the forming station into at least one pot; andb) transferring the web with formed pot to a filling station and filling the pot with the food product;at the same timec) advancing a top web to a punching station and punching at least one product dispensing aperture in the top web;and thereafter conducting the further steps ofd) bringing the base and top webs together in register so that an area of top web defining a lid and having the punched aperture therein overlies a mouth of a filled pot and sealing the lid to the pot to form a food package;e) advancing the package to a cooling chamber and holding the package suspended therein until the product in the package has solidified; andf) fixing a sealing member over the aperture at any point after step c.2. A process according to claim 1 in which more than one pot is formed in the web at a time.3. A process according to claim 2 in which a row, column or array of pots is formed at each pass of the forming station and simultaneously a corresponding number of lids is formed in the top web.4. A process according to claim 3 in which the pot is deformable toward the lid to dispense the food product through the aperture in the lid and the lid or a portion thereof is provided with sufficient rigidity to enable the pot to be collapsed against it.5. A process according to claim 3 in which the top web is thermoformed to fabricate it into a truncated dome-shaped lid and the aperture is formed in the planer surface of the dome.6. A process according to claim 3 in which the aperture is shaped so as to impart a desired cross-sectional shape to product extruded through the aperture.7. A process according to claim 3 in which the pot is deform able toward the lid to dispense the food product through the aperture in the lid and a rigid insert is provided intermediate the lid and the food product in the pot to provide a bearing surface against which the pot can be collapsed, the insert having a dispensing opening in register with the aperture of the lid to enable the food product to be dispensed therethrough.8. A process according to claim 2 in which the pot is deformable toward the lid to dispense the food product through the aperture in the lid and the lid or a portion thereof is provided with sufficient rigidity to enable the pot to be collapsed against it.9. A process according to claim 2 in which the top web is thermoformed to fabricate it into a truncated dome-shaped lid and the aperture is formed in the planer surface of the dome.10. A process according to claim 2 in which the aperture is shaped so as to impart a desired cross-sectional shape to product extruded through the aperture.11. A process according to claim 2 in which the pot is deformable toward the lid to dispense the food product through the aperture in the lid and a rigid insert is provided intermediate the lid and the food product in the pot to provide a bearing surface against which the pot can be collapsed, the insert having a dispensing opening in register with the aperture of the lid to enable the food product to be dispensed therethrough.12. A process according to claim 1 in which the pot is deformable toward the lid to dispense the food product through the aperture in the lid and the lid including a hearing surface with sufficient rigidity to enable the pot to be collapsed against it.13. A process according to claim 12 in which the top web is thermoformed to fabricate it into a truncated dome-shaped lid and the aperture is formed in the planer surface of the dome.14. A process according to claim 12 in which the aperture is shaped so as to impart a desired cross-sectional shape to product extruded through the aperture.15. A process according to claim 1 in which the top web is thermoformed to fabricate it into a truncated dome-shaped lid and the aperture is formed in the planer surface of the dome.16. A process according to claim 15 in which the aperture is shaped so as to impart a desired cross-sectional shape to product extruded through the aperture.17. A process according to claim 1 in which the aperture is shaped so as to impart a desired cross-sectional shape to product extruded through the aperture.18. A process according to claim 1 in which the pot is deformable toward the lid to dispense the food product through the aperture in the lid and a rigid insert is provided intermediate the lid and the food product in the pot to provide a bearing surface against which the pot can be collapsed, the insert having a dispensing opening in register with the aperture of the lid to enable the food product to be dispensed therethrough.19. A process according to claim 18 in which the dispensing opening is shaped so as to impart a desired cross-sectional shape to product extruded through the opening.20. A process according to claim 19 in which a shoulder is formed adjacent the mouth of the pot for receiving the insert.21. A process according to claim 18 in which a shoulder is formed adjacent the mouth of the pot for receiving the insert.22. A process according to claim 1 in which the package is separated from the webs after the scaling of the aperture by cutting the area of webs between adjacent packages or groups of packages.23. A process according to claim 1 in which the areas between adjacent packages and/or groups of packages is scored to enable individual packages or groups of packages to be snapped apart.