PACKAGING CONTAINER AND SOFT FOOD-CONTAINED PACKAGE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2023/041865, filed Nov. 21, 2023 and based upon and claiming the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-185813, filed Nov. 21, 2022, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a packaging container in which a soft food is contained, and a soft food-contained package in which a soft food is contained in the packaging container.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, soft foods are distributed as foods for nursing care for the elderly with difficulty in chewing or swallowing. A soft food is, for example, a food produced by griding a solid food and then solidifying and re-forming the resultant in a desired shape. In addition, as a soft food-contained package, as disclosed in International Publication No. 2013/146618, there is known a product in which a mousse-like food as a soft food, and a seasoning liquid as a liquid, are filled in a cup container that is a packaging container, and the cup container is sealed by a seal cover.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, a packaging container is a packaging container in which a soft food and a liquid are contained and which is sealed by a cover, the packaging container including a receptacle portion in which a recess portion, in which the soft food is contained, and a head space that is filled with the liquid above the soft food, are formed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there are included a soft food, a liquid, a receptacle portion in which a recess portion, in which the soft food is contained, and a head space that is filled with the liquid above the soft food, are formed, and a cover sealing the receptacle portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating, by a partial cross section, a structure of a soft food-contained package according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a structure of a packaging container used in the soft food-contained package.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically illustrating the packaging containers in a stacked state.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of the packaging container.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of the soft food-contained package.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of another example of the soft food-contained package.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of another example of the soft food-contained package.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of another example of the soft food-contained package.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of another example of the soft food-contained package.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of another example of the soft food-contained package.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a structure of another example of the packaging container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a structure of a soft food-contained packaging container 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a structure of the packaging container 11 used in a package 1 are described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10.

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a structure of the soft food-contained package 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and illustrating, by a cross section of a part of the packaging container 11 of the soft food-contained package 1, part of a food 13 contained therein. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a structure of the packaging container 11. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically illustrating two packaging containers 11 in a stacked state. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of the packaging container 11. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of the soft food-contained package 1, and FIG. 6 to FIG. 10 are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating structures of other examples of the soft food-contained package 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the soft food-contained package 1 includes the packaging container 11, a cover 12, and the food 13 including a soft food 31 and a liquid 32. The soft food-contained package 1 is a product in which the soft food 31 and liquid 32 are filled in the packaging container 11, and the packaging container 11 is sealed by the cover 12. The packaging container 11 and the cover 12 form a package that contains the food 13. In addition, the soft food-contained package 1 packages the food 13 (soft food 31 and liquid 32) by the cover 12 sealing the packaging container 11 in a state in which the soft food 31 and liquid 32 are filled in the packaging container 11.

The soft food-contained package 1 is formed to be capable of cooking with heat, for example, by a microwave oven and/or by warming in hot water. In addition, the soft food-contained package 1 is formed to be capable of, for example, storage at room temperature, storage by refrigeration, and/or storage by freezing. Note that in the present embodiment, the description is given by defining the up-and-down direction such that the packaging container 11 side is a downward side, and the cover 12 side is an upward side.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the packaging container 11 includes a receptacle portion 21, a flange portion 22, a ridge seal portion 23, and a liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24. The packaging container 11 is formed by shaping a multilayer thermoplastic resin sheet. Specifically, in the packaging container 11, the receptacle portion 21, flange portion 22, ridge seal portion 23 and liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 are formed of the thermoplastic resin sheet as one piece. In addition, a typical forming method for forming the thermoplastic resin sheet into the packaging container 11 is air pressure forming or injection molding, but other methods may be adopted. The packaging container 11 has, for example, a self-standing property by the receptacle portion 21. Note that the packaging container 11 may be configured to have no self-standing property.

In addition, the thermoplastic resin sheet that forms the packaging container 11 may be formed of a single-layer resin sheet or a multilayer resin sheet if the ridge seal portion 23, which is a part to which the cover 12 is heat-sealed, is formed of a resin with heat-seal property. It is preferable that the packaging container 11 is formed of a multilayer structure including, as an outer layer, a resin layer with heat seal property. In addition, it is preferable that the packaging container 11 has a gas barrier property, in addition to the heat seal property.

In the present embodiment, the packaging container 11 is formed of a multilayer thermoplastic resin sheet in which inner and outer surface layers of polypropylene and an intermediate layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer are bonded via an adhesive layer. Note that the surface layer is formed by using, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, or an olefin-based resin with a heat seal property, such as a blend of these. In addition, the intermediate layer is formed by using, for example, a thermoplastic resin with a gas barrier property such as Mx nylon, vinylidene chloride-based resin, or nylon-based resin. The surface layer and the intermediate layer are bonded via an adhesive layer formed of a resin having thermal adhesivity to both, such as acid modified olefin-based resin, copolyester-based adhesive resin, or epoxy modified thermoplastic adhesive resin.

In the receptacle portion 21, a plurality of recesses that are filled with the soft food 31 are formed. In a concrete example, the receptacle portion 21 includes a side wall portion 25, a planar portion 26 and a recess portion 27.

The side wall portion 25 is integrally continuous with the flange portion 22 at an open end (upper end), and is integrally continuous with the planar portion 26 at a lower end. In the present embodiment, the side wall portion 25 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. In a concrete example, the side wall portion 25 is formed in such a cylindrical shape as to have an identical diameter from the upper end to a central side in the up-and-down direction, to have a reduced diameter at the central side, and to have a gradually reduced diameter from the central side toward the lower end.

The planar portion 26 is formed in a planar shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the side wall portion 25. The planar portion 26 is formed to have a circular outer peripheral edge. The recess portion 27 is formed by the planar portion 26 being recessed at the location.

For example, a plurality of recess portions 27 are provided. It is preferable that three or more recess portions 27, for example, are provided. For example, the recess portions 27 are formed in different shapes. Here, the different shapes relate to shapes of openings of the recess portions 27, shapes of side surfaces and bottom surfaces of the recess portions 27, the depths of the recess portions 27, and the like. Note that all recess portions 27 may not have different shapes, and it suffices that the recess portions 27 have at least two or more kinds of shapes.

In the example of the present embodiment, three recess portions 27 are provided, and the three recess portions 27 have an equal depth, and have different shapes except for the depth. In addition, in this example, the side walls of the three recess portions 27 are inclined such that the opening shape becomes smaller from the upper-end opening toward the bottom portion. Note that the side wall may have a shape along the up-and-down direction.

For example, one of the three recess portions 27 is a pocket that is recessed in an omelet shape, another is a pocket that is recessed in a wienerwurst shape or an arcuate shape, and the other is a pocket that is recessed in a substantially triangular shape with curved corners. Note that the shapes of the recess portions 27 are not limited. For example, like a recess portion 27 of another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the pocket may be recessed not in the omelet shape, but in a shape simulating a slice of fish.

The recess portions 27 are arranged on the planar portion 26 in such a manner that a part of the planar portion 26 is present between mutually neighboring recess portions 27. In other words, the recess portions 27 are arranged on the planar portion 26 by being spaced apart.

In addition, the recess portions 27 are arranged on the planar portion 26 such that at least one of the recess portions and a part of the planar portion 26 are present in each of two orthogonal directions along the plane direction of the planar portion 26. In other words, the recess portions 27 are arranged such that at least one of the recess portions 27 is disposed in a radiating direction (radial direction) from the center of the planar portion 26 and a direction along the radiating direction (radial direction).

Specifically, like a plurality of recess portions 271 of a comparative example indicated by two-dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4, if the recess portions 271 are uniformly arranged, there occurs an area A in one of directions, where only a planar portion 26 is present and the recess portion 271 is not disposed. By contrast, at least one of the recess portions 27 of the embodiment is disposed in the radiating direction (radial direction) from the center of the planar portion 26 and the direction along the radiating direction (radial direction), and thereby the recess portions 27 are formed on the planar portion 26 with such a non-uniform arrangement that the area A where the recess portion 27 is not disposed does not occur on the planar portion 26, except for the outer peripheral edge of the planar portion 26.

In addition, in the case where the packaging container 11 is configured to have a self-standing property, the recess portions 27 may acquire a self-standing property by a bottom portion of any one of the recess portions 27, or may acquire a self-standing property by bottom portions of two or more of the recess portions 27.

The flange portion 22 is provided on the receptacle portion 21. The flange portion 22 extends outward from an opening end of the side wall portion 25 of the receptacle portion 21. The shape of the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 22 is set to be a rectangular shape, a circular shape, an oval shape, or a modified shape such as a combination of corner portions and a circular shape. In the present embodiment, the flange portion 22 forms a square outer edge shape with four arcuate corner portions, and the shape of the inner peripheral edge that is continuous with the opening end of the receptacle portion 21 is circular.

In addition, in the flange portion 22, the ridge seal portion 23 and the liquid-splash prevention portion 24, which project from an upper surface of the flange portion 22 to an upward side that is an opposite side to the receptacle portion 21 side (the side of the planar portion 26 and recess portions 27), are formed. Specifically, the flange portion 22 includes the ridge seal portion 23 and the liquid-splash prevention portion 24, which are integrally formed at a time of forming the packaging container 11.

The ridge seal portion 23 projects upward from a major surface of the flange portion 22. The ridge seal portion 23 is formed in an annular shape that is continuous with the upper surface of the flange portion 22. In other words, the ridge seal portion 23 extends over the entire circumference of the flange portion 22 in such a manner as to surround the inner peripheral edge of the flange portion 22 (the opening end of the receptacle portion 21).

An upper surface of the ridge seal portion 23 is formed in a planar shape. The upper surface of the ridge seal portion 23 is a seal surface on which the cover 12 is heat-sealed and with which the cover 12 is put in close contact. The ridge seal portion 23 projects upward from the major surface of the flange portion 22 with a predetermined width and height. Note that the width and height of the ridge seal portion 23 are properly set based on various conditions such as formability, sealability and openability of the cover 12, and the like. Specifically, the seal surface of the ridge seal portion 23 is set to have a predetermined seal area, and good sealability and openability can be secured. In addition, here, the width of the ridge seal portion 23 means a dimension in a direction that extends along the major surface of the flange portion 22 and is perpendicular to the extending direction of the ridge seal portion 23.

In addition, the ridge seal portion 23 is provided with a beak portion (first projecting portion) 23a at a position corresponding to an opening start portion at which the cover 12 is opened. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, beak portions (first projecting portions) 23a are provided at four locations corresponding to the corner portions of the square-shaped flange portion 22 having curved corner portions. Note that the beak portion 23a is provided at the opening start portion of the cover 12 of the ridge seal portion 23, and, for example, if the opening start portion is provided at one location, it suffices that the beak portion 23a is provided at one location of the ridge seal portion 23. Specifically, the opening start portion is appropriately set in consideration of the shape, the purpose of use, or the like of the packaging container 11, and the beak portion 23a is provided at a part of the ridge seal portion 23 in accordance with the opening start portion that is set.

The beak portion 23a is formed in a ridge shape projecting outward from the flange portion 22. Specifically, the beak portion 23a is a projection portion that is formed such that a part of the ridge seal portion 23 projects outward in the radial direction of the opening portion of the receptacle portion 21. In a concrete example, the beak portion 23a is formed to have a width and height similar to the width and height of the ridge seal portion 23, and is formed in a shape with a pointed tip. Here, the shape with the pointed tip of the beak portion 23a is a beak shape, an angular shape, an angle bracket (<) shape (V shape), or the like.

The beak portion 23a may not have an angular shape or a beak shape with a pointed tip, if stress concentrates at the distal end of the beak portion and the cover is easily pulled off with the beak portion 23a being the opening start point, when the cover 12 that is heat-sealed to the ridge seal portion 23 is pulled off from the packaging container 11. Specifically, the beak portion 23a can be appropriately set to have a curved shape without a pointed distal end, or a shape with a projecting distal end, if the force for opening the cover 12 can be concentrated by reducing the contact area that is in contact with the cover 12, when the cover 12 is moved in such a direction as to peel off the cover 12 at the opening start point.

The liquid-splash prevention projecting portion (second projecting portion) 24 is provided at a predetermined distance from the beak portion 23a, on the inner peripheral side of the beak portion 23a. The liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 includes a side surface extending along the inner surface (inside surface) of the beak portion 23a, and is disposed on the flange portion 22 by being spaced apart from the beak portion 23a with a predetermined gap. For example, the gap between the beak portion 23a and the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is set at about 1 mm.

By the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 being disposed with the predetermined gap from the beak portion 23a of the ridge seal portion 23, a gap is formed along the inner surface of the beak portion 23a between the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 and the inner peripheral side of the beak portion 23a.

For example, an upper surface of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is formed in a planar shape. The upper surface of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 serves as a seal surface, and the cover 12 is heat-sealed on the upper surface when the cover 12 and the ridge seal portion 23 are heat-sealed.

Both ends of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 may be formed to be spaced apart from the beak portion 23a (ridge seal portion 23), or one end thereof may be spaced apart from the beak portion 23a (ridge seal portion 23) and the other end thereof may be formed to be continuous with the beak portion 23a (ridge seal portion 23).

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is formed in an angle bracket (<) (V shape) along the beak portion 23a. In the case of adopting this liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24, the opening start portion of the flange portion 22 is configured to be provided with a double beak portion by the beak portion 23a and the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24. Note that the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 may have a triangular shape.

Note that in the case where the inside surface of the ridge seal portion 23 and the side surface of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 extend in an inclined direction to the major surface of the flange portion 22, it suffices that the extending direction of the side surface of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 extends along the extending direction of the beak portion 23a, and the directions of inclination of the inside surface of the beak portion 23a and the side surface of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 may be different.

In other words, it suffices that a ridgeline (ridge portion) of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 on the beak portion 23a side has a shape along the extending direction of the beak portion 23a.

The height of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is set to be equal to or less than the height of the ridge seal portion 23 (beak portion 23a). Preferably, the height of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is set to be less than the height of the ridge seal portion 23 (beak portion 23a). Note that the height of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is preferably set to be such a height as to be capable of suppressing a decrease in liquid-splash prevention effect, increasing a heat-seal strength between the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 and the cover 12, and suppressing a decrease in openability. Specifically, the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is preferably set to have such a height that the liquid-splash prevention effect is obtained, the adhesive force between the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 and the cover 12 is weak, and the cover 12 can smoothly be peeled off with no resistance at a time of peeling the cover 12.

The width of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is appropriately set. The width of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is appropriately set, for example, based on the adhesive force in the case where the cover 12 and the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 are adhered by heat-seal. Specifically, the width of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 is set based on the height of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24, the area and shape of the upper surface, and the like. Note that, here, the width of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 means a dimension in a direction that extends along the major surface of the flange portion 22 and is perpendicular to the extending direction of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24.

Note that the inside surface (inner surface) of the ridge seal portion 23 and that side surface of the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24, which is opposed to the ridge seal portion 23 (beak portion 23a) may extend in a direction perpendicular to the major surface of the flange portion 22, or may extend in a direction inclined to the major surface of the flange portion 22.

The cover 12 seals the receptacle portion 21 by being fixed to the flange portion 22 and covering the receptacle portion 21. The cover 12 is melt-adhered to the ridge seal portion and liquid-splash prevention projection portion 24, which are formed on the flange portion 22 by heat-seal in the packaging container 11. The cover 12 is formed in a film shape. In one example, the cover 12 is formed of a multilayer film of PET/adhesive layer (modified polypropylene)/cast polypropylene.

Note that the structure of the cover 12 is not limited to the structure in which the cover 12 is melt-adhered to the ridge seal portion 23 and the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24. For example, the ridge seal portion 23 and the liquid-splash prevention projecting portion 24 may not be formed on the flange portion 22, and the cover 12 may be configured to be directly melt-adhered to the flange portion 22. In addition, the cover 12 may not be melt-adhered, and the cover 12 may be formed in a cup shape or a dish shape and may be engaged with an outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 22. Besides, the cover 12 may be configured to be engaged with an inner peripheral edge of the flange portion 22, that is, an inner edge of an upper end of the side wall portion 25 of the receptacle portion 21.

The food 13 includes at least the soft food 31 and the liquid 32. The food 13 is, for example, a universal design food that is provided as a food for a person with difficulty in swallowing or as a food for a person with difficulty in chewing. Universal design foods are classified into four classifications in accordance with hardness or the like, namely “easily chewable”, “crushable by the gums”, “crushable by the tongue”, and “no need of chewing”. The food of the classification “easily chewable” requires a hardness of 5×10⁵ N/m² or less. The food of the classification “crushable by the gums” requires a hardness of 5×10⁴ N/m² or less. The food of the classification “crushable by the tongue” requires a hardness of 2×10⁴ N/m² or less. The food of the classification “no need of chewing” requires a hardness of 5×10³ N/m² or less.

The soft food 31 is, for example, a mousse-like food. The soft food 31 may be, like a custard pudding, a food obtained by solidifying a liquid including protein by utilizing thermal denaturation of protein.

The mousse-like food is a food obtained by kneading and crushing a solid food, mixing the resultant with a coagulant or the like, and then forming the mixture into a shape of a part in which the recess portion 27 is accommodated.

The solid food is, for example, an animal food material, a vegetable food material, or a combination thereof. The solid food can include meat, fish and shellfish, seaweed, fruit, nuts, cereal, vegetables, mushrooms, or two or more of these. The solid food may be a food material before cooking, or a cooked food. In the case of the latter, the solid food may further include one or more of oils and facts, and seasonings such as sugar and salt.

Preferably, the solid food is mashed to a desired grain size. As the grain size becomes smaller, the mouth-feel of the soft food 31 becomes smoother. The grain size of the mashed food is preferably 2.0 mm or less, more preferably 0.5 mm or less, and still more preferably 0.1 mm or less. Here, the “grain size” is a value obtained by grain size distribution measurement by a laser diffraction-scattering method.

The coagulant is, for example, a protein that is thermally denatured by heat and irreversibly solidified. Such a protein is, for example, mixed with the mashed food in a form of an aqueous solution. As the protein or aqueous solution thereof, for example, the white of an egg can be used. The protein is added such that the concentration in the soft food 31 is preferably within a range of 0.1 to 25 mass %, and more preferably within a range of 1 to 15 mass %.

The mixture of the mashed food, coagulant and the like is, for example, formed into a shape similar to the food before mashing or a food whose taste is to be reproduced by the soft food 31. For example, the shape of the recess portion 27 of the packaging container 11 is set to be a shape similar to the food whose taste is to be reproduced, and the mixture is filled in the recess portion 27 and is heated. The heating is performed preferably at temperatures within a range of 50 to 130° C., more preferably at temperatures within a range of 60 to 130° C., and still more preferably at temperatures within a range of 80 to 130° C. Thereby, thermal denaturing of the protein is caused, and the mixture is coagulated. In addition, the heating of the mixture filled in the recess portion 27 may be performed before the sealing of the packaging container 11 by the cover 12, or may be performed after the sealing of the packaging container 11 by the cover 12. Note that the heating of the mixture may be performed before the filling in the recess portion 27.

Preferably, the soft food 31 has a hardness of 5×10⁴ N/m² or less. The hardness of the soft food 31 may be 5×10³ N/m² or less. The problem of the loss of shape becomes conspicuous in the case where the softness of the soft food 31 is high. The method described here is particularly useful in the case where the hardness of the soft food 31 is low.

Preferably, the soft food 31 has a hardness of 2×10³ N/m² or more. If the soft food 31 is too soft, it becomes difficult for the soft food 31 to keep the shape. The soft food 31 may have a hardness of 1×10⁴ N/m² or more.

The soft food 31 is formed up to a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the recess portion 27. For example, the soft food 31 may be formed up to an upper end of the recess portion 27, may be formed up to below the upper end of the recess portion 27, or may be formed up to above the recess portion 27, i.e., above the planar portion 26, and below the upper end of the side wall portion 25. In other words, the height of the soft food 31 is lower than the height from the bottom portion of the soft food 31 (the bottom surface of the recess portion 27) to the planar portion 26, or is equal to the height from the bottom portion of the soft food 31 (the bottom surface of the recess portion 27) to the planar portion 26, or is higher than the height from the bottom portion of the soft food 31 (the bottom surface of the recess portion 27) to the planar portion 26 and is lower than the height up to the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12). In addition, the soft food 31 is formed in close contact with the recess portion 27 without a gap. In other words, the soft food 31 is formed in close contact with the bottom surface and side surface of the recess portion 27.

A description is given of the relationship between the soft food 31, and a head space occurring above the soft food 31 in the inside of the packaging container 11 and cover 12 that are the package. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the height (the height of the soft food 31) from the lower surface of the soft food 31 formed in the recess portion 27 (the bottom surface of the recess portion 27) to the upper surface of the soft food 31 is defined as H1. In addition, the height (the height of the head space) from the upper surface of the soft food 31 to the lower surface of the cover 12 is defined as H2. At this time, the height H1 of the soft food 31 and the height H2 of the head space have a relationship of H1>H2.

The liquid 32 is water, a seasoning liquid, rice porridge, or the like. In the example of the present embodiment, the liquid 32 is a seasoning liquid, and the description below is given on the assumption that the liquid 32 is a seasoning liquid 32. The seasoning liquid 32 is a liquid including water, and a seasoning, an extract of an animal food material, an extract of vegetable food material, fat, or a combination thereof. The seasoning liquid 32 is, for example, a solution, a dispersion liquid such as a sol, or a combination thereof.

The seasoning liquid 32 can further include a thickener. Examples of the thickener include, although not limited to these, guar gum, xanthan gum, tamarind gum, carrageenan, carboxymethyl cellulose, Tara gum, locust bean gum, curdlan, sodium alginate, psyllium seed gum, gellan gum, gum arabic, karaya gum, chitin, chitosan, arabinogalactan, welan gum, Sesbania gum, aloe vera extract, dammar resin, ghatti gum, elemi resin, dextran, oligoglucosamine, Abelmoschus Manihot, microfibrous cellulose, tragacanth gum, natto bacteria gum, Fukuronori extract, Furcellaria, Cassia gum, Macrophomopsis gum, pullulan, aloe arborescens extract, peach resin, Aureobasidium culture solution, guar gum enzymatic decomposition product, rhamsan gum, glucosamine, Levan, agrobacterium succinoglycan, yeast cell membrane, linseed gum, artemisia seed gum, almond gum, sclerogum, or two or more of these.

Preferably, the thickener is guar gum, xanthan gum, tamarind gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, Tara gum, locust bean gum, sodium alginate, psyllium seed gum, gum arabic, karaya gum, welan gum, tragacanth gum, natto bacteria gum, Furcellaria, Cassia gum, peach resin, guar gum enzymatic decomposition product, rhamsan gum, agrobacterium succinoglycan, or two or more of these.

More preferably, the thickener is guar gum, xanthan gum, tamarind gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, Tara gum, locust bean gum, sodium alginate, psyllium seed gum, welan gum, tragacanth gum, rhamsan gum, agrobacterium succinoglycan, or two or more of these.

According to one example, the seasoning liquid 32 includes, as the thickener, xanthan gum and guar gum. In addition, according to one example, the concentration of the thickener in the food 13 is in a range of 0.01 mass % to 3.00 mass %.

The seasoning liquid 32 may further include a gelling agent. The gelling agent is, for example, pectin, gelatine, agar, or two or more of these. The concentration of the gelling agent in the seasoning liquid 32 is preferably 1.0 mass % or less, more preferably 0.2 mass % or less, and still more preferably 0.1 mass % or less.

The viscosity of the seasoning liquid 32 is preferably within a range of 0.3 to 20.0 Pa·s, more preferably within a range of 0.3 to 10.0 Pa·s, and still more preferably within a range of 1.5 to 2.0 Pa·s. The solution or sol in the above-described classifications “crushable by the tongue” and “no need of chewing” requires 1500 mPa·s or more. Note that the sol of the classification “crushable by the tongue” requires a hardness of 1×10⁴ N/m² or less. Besides, the sol of the classification “no need of chewing” requires a hardness of 3×10³ N/m² or less.

As the viscosity of the seasoning liquid 32 becomes higher, the vibration of the surface of the soft food 31 and the vibration of the seasoning liquid 32 are more reduced at the time of, for example, transportation of the soft food-contained package 1. In addition, as the viscosity of the seasoning liquid 32 becomes higher, the movement of the soft food 31 in the packaging container 11 is more suppressed, and the contact of the soft food 31 with the inner surface of the container less easily occurs. Accordingly, the movement of the soft food 31 from the recess portion 27 into the head space between the upper surface of the soft food 31 and the lower surface of the cover 12, and the loss of shape of the soft food 31, which occur due to these factors, will occur less easily.

Note that the viscosity of the seasoning liquid 32 is calculated by using a B-type rotational viscometer, setting a measurement temperature at 20±2° C., rotating an M3 rotor or M4 rotor at 12 rpm, reading an indication after two minutes, multiplying the value of the indication by a corresponding coefficient, and expressing the obtained value by Pa·s.

The seasoning liquid 32 is filled in the head space occurring above the soft food 31 in the packaging container 11. The seasoning liquid 32 is filled in the packaging container 11 in such an amount that the liquid surface is set at a position equal to or higher than the planar portion 26. The seasoning liquid 32 may be filled in an amount less than the capacity of the head space, or may be filled in an equal amount to the capacity of the head space. Specifically, the seasoning liquid 32 may be filled up to a height below the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12) in such a manner that a space occurs in an upper part of the head space. Alternatively, the seasoning liquid 32 may be filled up to the same position as the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12), and may fill the head space such that no gas is present in the head space.

The food 13 as described above is, for example, a main dish and/or a side dish. Examples of main dishes and side dishes, which are reproduced by the soft food 31 and seasoning liquid 32 of the food 13, are, although not limited to these, curry, stew, boiled vegetables, and boiled food such as sukiyaki, or a hamburger, tomato chicken stew, stir-fried meat with vegetables, a wienerwurst, fish boiled with sugar and soy sauce, grilled fish, an omelet, and combinations of a grilled food, a stir-fried food or steamed food of vegetables, tofu or the like, and sauces.

Next, a plurality of examples of the soft food 31 and seasoning liquid 32, which are filled in the packaging container 11 of the soft food-contained package 1, are described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 10. Note that the soft food 31 and seasoning liquid 32 are not limited to the examples to be described below. In addition, FIG. 5 to FIG. 10 schematically illustrate the packaging container 11, with partial structures being omitted.

FIG. 5 illustrates a soft food-contained package 1 of a first example. As illustrated in FIG. 5, as the soft food 31 contained in the recess portions 27, different kinds of soft foods 31A and 31B are contained. Here, the different kinds of soft foods are two or more kinds of soft foods with different ingredients, and the different ingredients mean that at least a part of ingredients is different. Specifically, the different kinds of soft foods mean that, of two or more soft foods, at least one soft food includes, among ingredients, an ingredient different from ingredients of another soft food, or that all ingredients of one soft food are formed of ingredients different from the ingredients of another soft food. In addition, the meaning of the different ingredient includes that the ingredient itself is different, or that the amount of the ingredient is different. Besides, each of the soft foods 31A and 31B is filled up to a height of an intermediate part of each recess portion 27 in the height direction. The seasoning liquid 32 is filled in the head space in the package, and is filled up to a position lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12).

FIG. 6 illustrates a soft food-contained package 1 of a second example. As illustrated in FIG. 6, as the soft food 31 contained in the recess portions 27, the same kind of soft food 31 is contained. The soft food 31 is filled up to above the planar portion 26 beyond each recess portion 27. The seasoning liquid 32 is filled in the head space in the package, and is filled up to a position lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12).

FIG. 7 illustrates a soft food-contained package 1 of a third example. As illustrated in FIG. 7, as the soft food 31 contained in the recess portions 27, different kinds of soft foods 31A and 31B are contained. In a concrete example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a first soft food 31A is filled as the soft food 31 contained in one recess portion 27, a second soft food 31B is filled in a lower layer as the soft food 31 contained in the other recess portion 27, and the first soft food 31A is filled in an upper layer as the soft food 31 contained in the other recess portion 27. In addition, the first soft food 31A is filled up to above the planar portion 26 beyond each recess portion 27. The seasoning liquid 32 is filled in the head space in the package, and is filled up to a position lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12).

FIG. 8 illustrates a soft food-contained package 1 of a fourth example. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the soft food 31 is contained in one or more recess portions 27 among the recess portions 27, and the soft food 31 is not filled in at least one recess portion 27. The soft food 31 contained in recess portions may be the same food 31 or different foods. In a concrete example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the soft food 31 is filled in at least one recess portion 27 up to a height of an intermediate part of the recess portion 27 in the height direction. The seasoning liquid 32 is filled up to upper ends of the recess portion 27 filled with the soft food 31 and the recess portion 27 not filled with the soft food 31, that is, up to the planar portion 26.

FIG. 9 illustrates a soft food-contained package 1 of a fifth example. As illustrated in FIG. 9, as the soft food 31 contained in the recess portions 27, different kinds of soft foods 31A and 31B are contained. In addition, the first soft food 31A is filled up to a height of an intermediate part of the recess portion 27 in the height direction, and the second soft food 31B is filled up to the upper end of the recess portion 27 (the planar portion 26). The seasoning liquid 32 is filled in the head space in the package, and is filled up to a position lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12). In addition, the soft food 31B includes content 31a having a different taste, color and/or hardness from a mousse-like food that forms the soft food 31B. The content 31a is, for example, a mousse-like food that forms the soft food 31B. Note that the content 31a is not limited to the mousse-like food, and may be various foods, such as a solid food, if a target person who eats the soft food 31B can eat. Besides, for example, the content 31a may be a solidified seasoning liquid 32 that has a different taste from the seasoning liquid 32 and is solidified by a gelling agent.

FIG. 10 illustrates a soft food-contained package 1 of a sixth example. As illustrated in FIG. 10, as the soft food 31 contained in a plurality of recess portions 27, the same kind or different kinds of soft foods 31A are contained. For example, the soft food 31A is filled up to above the planar portion 26 beyond each recess portion 27. A seasoning liquid 32A is filled in the head space in the package, and is filled up to a position lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 25 (the lower surface of the cover 12). In addition, the packaging container 11 includes one or more recess portions 28 provided in the flange portion 22, in addition to the recess portions 27 formed on the planar portion 26, and a soft food 31B and/or a seasoning liquid 32B is contained in the recess portion 28. For example, the soft food 31A and seasoning liquid 32A contained in the recess portions 27 are a main dish and/or a side dish, and the soft food 31B and seasoning liquid 32B contained in the recess portions 28 provided in the flange portion 22 are a main dish and/or a side dish of a different taste, or sweets such as a custard pudding, a jerry, or a mousse cake.

As illustrated in these examples, in regard to the soft food 31 and seasoning liquid 32 contained in the soft food-contained package 1, if the height H1 of the soft food 31 is higher than the height of the head space H2 and the seasoning liquid 32 is filled up to at least the planar portion 26, the soft food-contained package 1 can have various structures. In addition, the above-described examples are merely examples, and the structures of the various examples can be combined. Specifically, the seasoning liquid 32 in the example 1 and the example 2 can be filled until filling the head space. In addition, two or more kinds of soft foods 31 may be filled in one recess portion 27, and may be stacked in two or more layers, and one or more kinds of contents 31a may be included in the soft food 31. Furthermore, the content 31a may be configured to be included in the seasoning liquid 32. Besides, two or more different kinds of seasoning liquids 32 may be filled, and may be formed in a mixed state in a common head space occurring above the recess portions 27.

According to the soft food-contained package 1 with the above-described structure, the soft food 31 is contained in the recess 27 in the shape of the recess portion 27, and the seasoning liquid 27 is contained in the head space occurring above the soft food 31. Thereby, the area in which the soft food 31 is in contact with the seasoning liquid 32 is the upper surface of the soft food 31. Specifically, in the soft food-contained package 1, since the soft food 31 is filled in the recess portion 27, the area of contact of the soft food 31 with the seasoning liquid 32 can be reduced. Thus, the taste and/or color of the seasoning liquid 32 can be prevented from excessively spreading to the soft food 31. Note that in a case where the taste and/or color of the seasoning liquid 32 is lighter than the taste and/or color of the soft food 31, the taste and/or color of the soft food 31 can be prevented from excessively spreading to the seasoning liquid 32.

Additionally, in the soft food-contained package 1, if the height of the soft food 31 filled in the recess portion 27 is set to be equal to or less than the height of the planar portion 26, the area of contact of the seasoning liquid 32 with each soft food 31 can be decreased as much as possible, thus being able to suppress the spreading of the taste of the soft food 31 into the seasoning liquid 32, and the spreading of the taste and color of the seasoning liquid 32 into the soft food 31.

Additionally, the soft food 31 is formed in the shape of the recess portion 27, and is contained in the recess portion 27. Thus, even if vibration or impact is applied to the soft food-contained package 1 at a time of transportation, the soft food 31 does not easily move and is prevented from being crumbled. In addition, since the soft food 31 is contained in the recess portion 27, drips occurring from the soft food 31 after the formation of the soft food 31 mix with the seasoning liquid 32, and thus the drips occurring from the soft food 31 are not visually recognized.

Additionally, even in the case where different soft foods 31 are contained in the recess portions 27, the seasoning liquid 32 is in contact with each soft food 31. Thereby, even in the case where different soft foods 31 are treated, the soft food-contained package 1 is configured such that the seasoning liquid 32 is in contact with the upper surface of each soft food 31, and thus the flavor or taste spreading from each soft food 31 decreases. Thus, the soft food-contained package 1 can achieve proper harmony of taste of the seasoning liquid 32, and can suppress excessive mixing of state. Furthermore, because of the structure in which the seasoning liquid 32 is in contact with only the upper surface of the soft food 31, it is possible to reduce excessive permeation or a change in taste or hardness of the soft food 31 by the seasoning liquid 32.

Additionally, the soft food-contained package 1 is configured such that the height H1 of the soft food 31 is higher than the height H2 of the head space. At a time of transporting the soft food-contained package 1, for example, when the soft food-contained package 1 is vertically inverted, that is, when the receptacle portion 21 is turned to the upper side and the cover 12 is turned to the lower side, even if the soft food 31 is separated from the recess portion 27, the soft food 31 does not completely slip out of the recess portion 27 and a part of the soft food 31 stays in the recess portion 27. Thereby, when the attitude of the soft food-contained package 1 is restored, that is, when the receptacle portion 21 is turned back to the lower side and the cover 12 is turned back to the upper side, the soft food 31 is contained in the recess portion 27 once again.

Additionally, the liquid surface of the seasoning liquid 32 is set at the same position as the upper surface of the planar portion 26 or is set above the planar portion 26. Thereby, even if the soft food-contained package 1 is inclined and the seasoning liquid 32 moves, if the attitude is restored, the seasoning liquid 32 can come in contact with the upper surface of the soft food 31 provided in each recess portion 27.

Additionally, the packaging container 11 includes the planar portion 26, and a part of the planar portion 26 is disposed between the mutually neighboring recess portions 27. Thus, compared to the structure in which the recess portions 27 are continuous, the strength can be increased.

Additionally, in the packaging container 11, the recess portions 27 provided on the planar portion 26 are arranged such that at least one of the recess portions 27 and the planar portion 26 are disposed in each of two orthogonal directions along the plane direction of the planar portion 26. Thereby, the strength of the packaging container 11 can be increased. Specifically, as indicated by two-dot-and dash lines in FIG. 4, in the structure in which the recess portions 271 are arranged by being uniformly spaced apart, the area A where the recess portion 271 is not disposed occurs in one direction. Then, since the strength of this area A is the strength of the planar portion 26, if external force is applied and exceeds the strength of the planar portion 26, there occurs bending deformation in the area A. By contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 1, except for the outer peripheral edge of the planar portion 26, there occurs no such area A where only the planar portion 26 is disposed and the recess portion 27 is not disposed in the direction along the plane direction of the planar portion 26. Thereby, the packaging container 11 can improve the strength of the planar portion 26 by the recess portions 27.

Additionally, although the number of recess portions 27 provided in the packaging container 11 is not limited, by providing three or more recess portions 27, it becomes easier to improve the strength of the planar portion 26, and to arrange at least one recess portion in the plane direction of the planar portion 26. Furthermore, in the soft food-contained package 1, since three or more different kinds of soft foods 31 can be disposed, the number of kinds of colors and tastes can be increased.

As has been described above, according to the soft food-contained package 1 and packaging container 11 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent spreading of a taste and/or color between the soft food 31 and the seasoning liquid 32, and to prevent crumbling of the soft food 31.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. At the stage of practicing the invention, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, the embodiments may properly be combined and practiced, and advantageous effects by the combinations can be obtained. Further, the embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions may be derived by properly combining structural elements selected from the disclosed structural elements. For example, even if some structural elements are omitted from all the structural elements disclosed in the embodiments, structures from which these structural elements are omitted may be derived as inventions in the case where the problem can be solved and the advantageous effects can be obtained.