BE1028317B1 - CONTAINER FOR FRESH PRODUCTS AND PROCEDURE FOR PACKAGING FRESH PRODUCTS IN A CONTAINER - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device container with an internal storage space for fresh products with a limited shelf life, the container comprising the following elements: a pot which is cylindrical in shape, the pot comprising a wall, a closed bottom and an open top and wherein the wall and bottom enclose an open internal storage space; a lid, the lid comprising a circular surface suitable for covering the open top of the jar and the lid being made in one piece; wherein the lid comprises on a first side of the circular surface an upstanding rim configured for clamping against the wall of the jar, on one side facing the internal storage space. The invention also relates to a method for packaging fresh products with a limited shelf life in a container. Finally, the invention relates to packaged fresh product.

Description

CONTAINER FOR FRESH PRODUCTS AND PACKAGING PROCEDURE OF FRESH PRODUCTS IN A CONTAINER

TECHNICAL DOMAIN The invention is situated in packaging for the food industry. More particularly, the invention relates to a container with an internal storage space for fresh produce with a limited shelf life. In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a method for packaging fresh products with a limited shelf life in a container. The invention relates in a third aspect to packaging! fresh product, in particular blueberries, provided in a container according to the first aspect and/or packaged according to a method according to the second aspect.

BACKGROUND ART Containers for storing goods with a limited shelf life are known per se from the prior art. The food industry is constantly looking for new ways to better store goods with a limited shelf life and keep them fresh for longer. Usually these containers include an internal storage space which is provided with ways to allow ventilation toss. An attempt is made to optimize the ventilation in this way to prevent the stored goods from spoiling. After all, the ventilation loops on the outside and the inside of the container will partly determine how fresh a product stays. However, the provision of ventilation can negatively affect the stability and structural integrity of a container. To ensure the stability of a container, structural elements such as for instance reinforcing ribs are therefore often provided, wherein the structural elements ensure that the container retains its shape. The relationship between the need for ventilation and the need for structural integrity is an important aspect in the usability of a container for fresh products. In addition, it is necessary to work in a cost-saving manner, whereby the amount of material used for manufacturing the container is important. The thicker the walls of the container, the more it costs to manufacture.

Containers for the storage of fresh products, in addition to having sufficient structural stability, must also be light enough for transport and lifting by the customer. Again, the amount of material used to manufacture the container is important, given a heavier conlainer economically will be disadvantageous in terms of production and transport costs as well as ergonomically disadvantageous. The transport costs are influenced by the possibility of stacking the container. The lid of containers for the storage of fresh products according to the prior art protrudes from the jar of the container. This is disadvantageous because it allows a less efficient stacking of containers, so that fewer containers can be transported together. An additional disadvantage is that when containers touch each other during transport, the lid of the container can come loose. Ventilation must be maintained during the stacking of the containers. This means that a balance must be struck between the efficiency of stacking and the need for ventilation. This drives up transport costs. When purchasing fresh food, customers generally prefer a container that allows viewing and inspecting the food. For this purpose, use is generally made of containers in which at least one surface is transparent.

The present invention aims at least at finding a solution to some of the above-mentioned problems or drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, the invention provides a container according to claim 1. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because the container comprises a lid which comprises a raised rim on a first side of the circular surface, configured for clamping against the wall of the pile. , on one side facing the internal storage space. By clamping the lid, the lid fits closely to the pot, which is extremely advantageous for preventing the lid from coming loose. This considerably improves the loss of cargo from the container. In addition, the stacking of the containers is optimized when using a lid clamping to the pot, as the number of containers that can be stacked increases.

The present invention is economically more advantageous over prior art containers.

Preferred shapes of the container are set forth in claims 2 to

13.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method according to claim

14. This method has the advantage, among other things, that the packaging of products with a limited shelf life takes place more efficiently, because containers are filled more quickly and are opened unintentionally less quickly as a result of the lid being touched or as a result of the containers being imported, resulting in less fresh product is damaged or lost during transit.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to packaged fresh product, in particular blueberries, provided in a container according to the first aspect and/or packaged according to a method according to the second aspect.

The packaged fresh product in the present invention has better ventilation and shelf life. As a result, less spoilage occurs and the saleability is maintained. Due to the clamping lid, the lid opens less quickly during transport, so that less fresh product is damaged or lost during transport.

An additional advantage is that more containers with fresh products can be transported in the same volume, which has a positive influence on transport costs.

The presence of a large perforation in the lid of the container allows blueberries to be poured out of the container one at a time without the need to open the lid. This is an economical way of tasting stored fresh produce and increases the market value of the container. packaged fresh product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pot according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 show! a bottom view of a pot according to an embodiment of the present invention.

+ BE2020/5818 Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows a top view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the stacking of pots according to a ulivos ring form of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows a detailed schematic representation of the stacking of lids together according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Unless otherwise defined, all terms that use! In the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, the meanings are as generally understood by those skilled in the art of the invention. For a better assessment of the description of the invention, the following terms are explicitly explained.

“A”, “the” and “hell” in this document refer to both the singular and the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, “a segment” means one or more than one segment.

The terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “consist of”, “consisting of”, “features”, “contain”, “contain”, “contents”, “includes” are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of the following, and which do not exclude or preclude the presence of other components, features, elements, members, steps known from or described in the art.

Citing numerical intervals through the endpoints includes all integers, fractions and/or real numbers between the endpoints, including these endpoints.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a container with an internal storage space for fresh products with a limited shelf life, the following elements falling over the container:

° BE2020/5818 - a pot which is cylindrical in shape, the pot comprising a wall, a closed bottom and an open top and the wall and the bottom enclosing an open internal storage space; a lid, wherein the lid surrounds a circular surface, suitable for covering the open top of the jar and wherein the lid is made in one piece. , the ridge being positioned on one side facing the internal storage space. In the present invention, the ridge is configured for clamping against the wall of the pile, on one side facing the internal storage space. Due to these adjustments to a lid, the diameter of the container decreases compared to previously described containers, since the lid no longer protrudes relative to the pot, so that only the diameter of the pot now determines the diameter of the container. The loss of cargo encompassing a container due to inadvertent opening of the lid by contact or impact is a major problem with economic implications. It is estimated that one in 20 containers opens during transit and loses its cargo, causing a major loss of money and time. The present invention allows efficient retention of cargo in the containers. The adjustments to the lid not only improve load retention, but they also ensure that the containers can be stored more efficiently. Because a lid is flat and clamps to a pot, the degree of filling of the containers in a crate increases. This has the advantage that more containers can be transported in a single load. This results in a reduction of the time and costs associated with the transport.

In a preferred embodiment, a lid of the container is provided with a lip which is extremely suitable for opening the lid. The lip has the feature that it is elastic, wherein an elasticity of the lip is of such a nature that the lip does not hinder the stacking of containers. The lip forms an attachment point by means of which the lid can be removed from the jar.

In a further embodiment, a tab is substantially parallel to the circular surface of the lid, the tab preferably being elongate with rounded corners.

In a preferred embodiment, all components of the container are made from recycled polyethylene erephthalate (RPET or recycled PET). PET is a thermoplastic polyester that can be used as a fiber for clothing or in containers suitable for liquids and food. An estimated 50 million tons of PET is produced annually and is a significant source of pollution.

Therefore, preferably recycled PET is used, which is made from recycled material and is itself fully recyclable. In a preferred embodiment, a pot has a diameter of at least 80 mm at the bottom and at least 110 mm at the open top; more preferably, the pot has a diameter of at least 90 mm at the bottom and at least 120 mm at the open top. Dimensions of the diameter of the bottom and the top ensure that the pot has a rising wall with the degree of inclination {between 3° and 5°. The slope is measured relative to a perpendicular to the bottom of the pot, at the height of a puni where the wall intersects the bottom. This configuration of a pot promotes optimal filling with fresh products. in a preferred embodiment, a clump is stackable in other pots. The distance between the open tops of one pot to the next pot is a minimum of 13 and a maximum of 17 mm. The distance between the open tops is herein defined as the shortest distance between two piles of pollen stacked on top of each other, measured at the point where the wall touches the open top. Efficient stacking of the pollen reduces storage space and thus saves space. In a preferred embodiment, a lid is stackable on top of other lids. The distance between the circular surfaces of one cover to the next cover is a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 mm. The distance between the circular surfaces is herein defined as the shortest distance between two stacked lids, measured at the most distal point with respect to the center of the circular surface. Efficiently stacking the lids reduces storage space and thus saves space.

(BE2020/5818 In a preferred embodiment, a container comprises one or more perforations.

The perforations provide ventilation between the inside and the outside of the container, whereby the venlilalie is necessary for the shelf life of fresh products. if the ventilation is not adequate, spoilage will occur and the products will no longer be able to be offered to customers.

In a further embodiment, a perforation in a pot has a surface and a bottom of a pot has a surface, the surface of the perforation being a minimum of 230 times a maximum of 260 times smaller than the surface of the bottom of the pot.

The more perforations present, the less structural stability a container will have. The defined ratio between the surface of the perforation and the surface of the bottom results in optimal ventilation in the pot and ensures the freshness of the products while the container maintains sufficient structural stability.

Ventilation is calculated from a volume of a pot and a flow rate of an airflow.

In a preferred embodiment, a perforation in a cover has a surface area and a circular surface of a cover has a surface, wherein the area of a perforation is a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 80 times smaller than the area of the circular surface of the cover.

As described above for the pot, the ratio between the perforation area and the lid area is extremely important for optimal ventilation.

The ventilation in the container is determined by a combination of the ventilation through the jar and through the lid.

This explains that the ratio of lid perforation/lid is greater than the ratio of pot perforation/pot, whereby the air circulation necessary for keeping products with limited shelf life fresh preferably takes place via the lid.

In a preferred embodiment, a lid comprises four perforations spaced on a circumference in the circular surface of the lid.

The circle radius has a radius of at least 50 mm.

As stated before, the ventilation in the lid on the jar is essential for preserving the freshness of the products.

If there is not sufficient ventilation, the products will spoil more quickly, which entails economic loss.

In the present invention, the predetermined minimum radius of perforations ensures optimum ventilation in the container.

In a further embodiment, three perforations have an equal area and one perforation has an area at least twice as large as an area of each of the three perforations of equal area. The function of the three perforations of equal surface area in the lid is to provide adequate ventilation in the container, in relation to the four perforations provided in the bottom of the pile. In a preferred form, however, a largest perforation will have a surface area that is at least twice as large, characterized in that the largest perforation has a minimum diameter of at least 16 mm. A function of the largest perforation is to allow products, such as for example blueberries, to leave the container through this perforation. Hierloe has the largest perforation diameter which is larger than the average diameter of a blueberry, with the average diameter of a blueberry being loops five and mm. This largest perforation allows blueberries to be poured out of the container one at a time without the need to open the lid. In the present invention, the specification of a largest perforation is an advantageous way of tasting stored fresh products.

According to a preferred embodiment, a lid comprises one or more protrusions, wherein a protrusion is elastic in nature and wherein the protrusions are regularly distributed over one side of the upstanding rim, whereby the upstanding rim faces the wall of the pot. The projections are advantageous for increasing friction between the upstanding rim and the wall of the pot, resulting in better clamping.

According to a further embodiment, a jar comprises one or more notches, the notches being regularly spaced along the wall of the jar on one side facing the internal storage space, and the notches being configured to receive the projections of the lid. For an optimal connection of the lid to the pot, the projections will fit perfectly in one or more notches present in the pot by means of an elasticity.

In a preferred embodiment, a cover on a second side of the circular surface, opposite the first side, comprises one or more projecting edges. The projecting rims are situated on a similarly circular perimeter and are configured to receive the bottom of a pot. The bottom of a pot fits into recesses formed by the protruding edges in a lid. This feature greatly increases the stability of stacked containers and improves the number of containers that can be transported within one load. These adjustments reduce the time required for stacking and transport.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for packaging fresh products with a limited shelf life in a container with internal storage space.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the following steps: - providing a container, comprising a pot and a lid; - providing fresh produce; - filling fresh products into the jar; - closing the jar by means of the lid.

The pol includes an internal storage space. The lid is fitted in the pot with an edge clamping against a wall of the pot, on one side of the wall facing the internal storage space. By clamping the lid in the pot, friction between the rim of the lid in the pot and the wall of the pot is generated on the side of the wall facing the Internal Storage Space, resulting in a closer fit between lid and pot. This ensures that the lid can come off less quickly. In this way, loss or damage to packaged fresh products is greatly reduced compared to a method according to the prior art, which has an economically favorable effect. An additional advantage of a clamping lid is the absence of a protruding edge in relation to the pot. This optimizes the stacking of the containers with packaged fresh products, allowing more containers to be transported in a single load. One skilled in the art will appreciate that a method according to the second aspect is preferably configured for filling a container according to the first aspect, and thus that a container according to the first aspect can be filled using a method according to the invention. second aspect. Accordingly, each feature described in this document, above as well as below, may relate to any of the three aspects of the present invention.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a packaged fresh product, in particular blueberries, provided in a container according to the first aspect and/or packaged according to a method according to the second aspect.

The packaged fresh product in the present invention has better ventilation and shelf life. As a result, less spoilage occurs and the saleability is maintained. Due to the clamping lid, the lid opens less quickly during transport, so that less fresh product is damaged or lost during transport. An additional advantage is that more containers of fresh products can be transported in a smaller volume, which has a positive influence on transport costs. The presence of a large perforation in the lid of the container allows blueberries to be poured out of the container one by one without the need to open the lid. This is an economical way of tasting stored fresh produce and increases the market value of the packaged fresh product.

In what follows, the invention is described by reference to: non-limiting figures illustrating the invention, and which are not intended or should be construed to limit the scope of the invention.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION Figure 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of a pot according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross section is along the line A-A' in Figure 2. The pot comprises a bottom 1, a wall 2 and an open top 3, the wall 2 and the bottom 1 enclosing an open internal storage space 4 . The diameter of the bottom 5 is at least 80 mm and the diameter of the open lobe 6 is at least 110 mm. The wall 2 has a degree of inclination 7 between 3° and 5°. At a distance of 10 mm from the open top 3, the pot has a rim 8 parallel to the open top 3 and the bottom 1. This rim 8 forms the widest part of the pot. Situated between the open top 3 and the rim 8, a pot comprises a plurality of notches 3 on the inside of the wall 2, the notches being regularly distributed along the wall of the pot. The inner side is the side of the wall 2 that faces the internal storage space 4.

Figure 2 illustrates a bottom view of a pot according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pot comprises a bottom 1, a wall 2 and a rim 8. The bottom of the pot comprises perforations 10 which are evenly distributed over the bottom, the area of a perforation being a minimum of 230 and a maximum of 260 notches less than the surface of the the bottom of the jar.

In addition, the bottom contains structural elements 11 that reinforce the pot, as well as recesses 12 that safeguard the required ventilation via the perforations 10 during stacking.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The cross-section is along the line À-A' in Figure 4. The lid comprises a raised edge 14 located on a first side 13 of a circular surface 15. Situated in the upright edge 14, a lid comprises a plurality of holes 16, wherein the lids 16 are evenly distributed along the raised edge 13 of the lid.

The projections 16 face outwardly, and are designed to fit into notches $ on the inside of the poi wall 2. On a second side 18 of the circular surface 45, the cover has projecting edges 17. The cover has a circular perimeter.

Surrounding the circular perimeter is an outer rim 19 which is parallel to the circular surface 15. Figure 4 depicts a top view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The cover overturns a circular surface 15, an outer rim 19 and a tab 29, the tab 29 having rounded corners 21 and an elongated shape 22 .

The lid includes four perforations 23 which are spaced on a circumference in the circular surface 15 of the lid.

The surface of a perforation 23 is at least 30 and at most 80 times smaller than the surface of the circular surface 15 of the cover.

Three of the four perforations 23 are identical, namely perforations 23a.

One of the four perforations 23, namely perforation 23b, is at least twice as large as the area of each of three identical perforations 23a.

This largest perforation 236 has a diameter of at least 16 mm.

In addition, the lid includes projecting rims 17 situated on a similar circular perimeter and configured to receive the bottom of a pot.

Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the stacking of pots together according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The pots each comprise a bottom 1, a wall 2 and an open barrel 3, the wall 2 and the bottom 1 enclosing an open internal storage space 4, Stacking height 24 of two pots can be measured between the open tops 3 or between the rims 8 of individual pots.

Figure 6 shows a detailed schematic representation of the interlocking of lids according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stacking height 24 of two lids can be mixed between the tops 15 of individual pollen. Figure elements 1: bottom 2: wall 3: open top 4: internal storage space 5: diameter of the bottom 6: diameter of the open top 7: slope 8: edge 9: notches 10: perforations bottom 11: structural elements 12: owl recesses 13: a first side 14: raised edge 15: circular surface 16: projections 17: projecting edges 18: outer edge 19: tab 20: rounded corner 21: elongated shape 22: perforations lid 22a: three identical perforations 22b: largest perforation 23: stacking height

Claims (15)

CONCLUSIONS 1. Container with internal storage space for fresh products with a limited shelf life, the container falling over the following elements: - a pot that is cylindrical in shape, in which the pot overturns a wall, a closed bottom and an open top and in which the wall and the bottom enclose an open internal storage space; a lid, the lid comprising a circular surface suitable for covering the open top of the jar and the lid being made in one piece; characterized in that the lid comprises on a first side of the circular surface an upstanding rim configured for clamping down on the wall of the jar, on one side facing the internal storage space, the lid overturning four periorations distributed on a circumference in the circular surface of the lid, the circumference of which is at least 56 mm in radius, three perforations having an equal area and one perforation having an area at least twice as large as the surface of each of the three perforations of equal area . A container according to claim 1, characterized in that all components of the container are made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (BPET). Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a lid is provided with a lip suitable for opening the lid, A container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that a pot has a diameter of at least 80 mm at the bottom and at least 110 mm at the open top. A container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that a clump can be stacked in other clumps, wherein the distance between the open tops of one pot and the next pot is a minimum of 13 and a maximum of 17 mm. Container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-5, characterized in that a lid is stackable in other lids, wherein the distance between the circular surfaces of a lid to a subsequent lid is a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 mm. Container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-6, characterized in that the container comprises one or more perforations. 8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that a perforation in a pot and that the bottom of the pot have a surface, the surface of a perforation being a minimum of 230 times and a maximum of 250 times smaller than the surface of the bottom of the the jar. A container according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a perforation in a lid and that the circular surface of the lid have a surface, the surface of a perforation being at least 30 times and at most 80 times smaller than the surface of the the circular surface of the lid. A container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the largest perforation included in the lid is circular, the perforation having at least a diameter of 16 mm. 11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-10, characterized in that a lid comprises one or more projections, one projection being elastic and the projections being regular over one side of the upright ranc, directed towards the wall of the container. jar, be scattered. A container according to claim 11, characterized in that a clump comprises one or more notches, the notches being regularly spaced along the wall of the clump on one side facing the internal storage space and wherein the notches are configured to receive the protrusions of the lid. A container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-12, characterized in that a lid on a second side of the circular surface, opposite the first side, comprises one or more projecting edges, the projecting edges being on the same circular circumference. with the projecting edges configured to receive the bottom of the pot. 14 Method for packaging fresh products with limited shelf life in a container with internal storage space, the method 40 comprising the following steps: - providing a container, comprising a pot and a lid; - providing fresh products; - filling fresh products into the jar; - closing the pot in the middle of the lid; characterized in that the lid with a rim clamping against a wall of the pot, on a side of the wall facing the internal storage space, is arranged in the pot, the lid comprising four perforations distributed on a circumference in the circumference of the pot. circular surface of the lid, the circumference having a radius of at least 50 mm, three perforations having an equal area and one perforation having an area at least twice as large as the area of each of the three perforations of equal area. Packaged fresh product, in particular blueberries, provided in a container according to any one of claims 1-13 and/or packaged according to a method according to claim 14.