JPS6330228B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to food heating containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional techniques and their problems Various self-heating containers have been known in the past. However, these containers have a number of drawbacks that make it difficult to store them for many days.

If heat-reacting materials are not adequately packaged and protected, they typically become ineffective after 50 to 60 days.

Also, in conventional containers, the equipment for initiating the chemical reactions that generate the heat for heating food products has been incomplete.

The container generally has several reaction pockets. Some pockets contain calcium oxide or potassium hydroxide and orthophosphoric acid or calcium oxide; other pockets contain water. Additionally, a device is provided to tear these pockets open and cause a reaction. The pocket is located at the top and only a rapid but limited exothermic reaction occurs due to insufficient mixing of water and reactants.

Although many patents exist for self-heating containers, the containers according to these patents have the serious drawback that the reaction of calcium oxide is insufficient, resulting in a dangerous premature or inadvertent initiation of the reaction. ing. The present invention aims to eliminate these drawbacks, improve the safety of the container, and ensure that all calcium oxide reacts well and reliably.

DE 1214600 describes a good mixing of fruit juice with milk, but does not describe its use in mixing reactive substances. Similarly, the invention described in US Pat. No. 3,085,681 cannot be used to mix reactive substances without risk. Because the water must be placed in an internal pocket and the device has two compartments, the calcium oxide cannot react with all the water. As a result, calcium oxide reacts poorly. Additionally, the outer pockets either rupture under the pressure of the gas generated from the calcium oxide during the reaction, or if not, the gas remains trapped;
Food products in the third compartment cannot be heated. Although U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,357 describes the opening of a water-containing pocket, in practice the pocket and tongue are free so that one in three or four times it is opened. Only. However, even in the invention described in the specification, there is a significant lack of safety. If the food product is heavy, in the rest position the cutting blade on the tongue will cut the receptacle containing the food product, or the tongue will rupture the receptacle and if there is any liquid If there is, the reaction will start immediately. If the receiving part is moved, the tip of the tongue-like part collides with the water-accommodating pocket, and there is a risk that a reaction may be started inadvertently. FR 2 348 121 describes an adhesive strip for sealing a water-containing pocket. This seal is sensitive to humidity and temperatures that are too high or too low can cause the adhesive strip to peel off. Therefore, the reaction may occur at any time and is uncontrollable. In the invention described in French Patent No. 2348121,
The water storage pocket is fixed at one end and has a cord connected to the other end. The water-containing pockets are therefore able to move to a certain extent within the heating receptacle, with the result that they can tear during production, storage, transshipment or transport, leading to unintended reactions.

Swiss process known as portuel, branchjat and bertrand.
process) has been commercialized. This refers to the US Patent No.
No. 3,871,357, the above-mentioned US and West German patents, and French patent No. 2,348,121. The water storage pocket is stapled at one end to a small piece of cardboard and a release cord, which cord is stapled to the cardboard at one end separately from the pocket. The entire contents of the heating tank are free and unsecured, so either the staples can tear the food storage tank and the liquid can start a reaction, or the staples can pierce the heating tank and water storage pocket and cause an accidental accident. There is always a danger of starting a reaction.

Furthermore, in the inventions described in the patent specifications of each country mentioned above, calcium oxide is movable in the heating tank, and therefore sufficient action is not obtained due to insufficient reaction or reaction at only one location in the storage tank. As a result, the food tub located above is often only heated in one place and complete heating is not possible.

Furthermore, conventional containment tanks have flat water containment pockets that cover virtually the entire heating surface, blocking heat diffusion to the food product tank above.

Conventional containers combine a food storage tank with a flexible aluminum foil that houses pockets for calcium oxide and water and acts as a heating tank. Because the thickness of the food storage tank cannot exceed 80 microns for economic and technical reasons, incorrect handling by the user may pierce the bottom of the food storage tank and cause the liquid content of the food product to react with calcium oxide. There is a risk that an accident may occur where the water storage pocket ruptures and a similar reaction occurs.

The object of the present invention is to provide a heating method for food products that can prevent inadvertent heat generation of exothermic reactants, provide assurance to users about hygiene and safety, and achieve a more complete reaction of exothermic reactants. The goal is to provide a container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a support having a food product tank in the upper part for accommodating the food products to be heated and a hollow chamber having a side opening formed in the lower part; A heating tank is used to store two types of substances that undergo an exothermic reaction upon contact, with one substance being sealed from the other substance in the bag and in contact with the other substance, from the lower opening of the support. The heating tank has a box-like shape with an open top and can be taken in and out of the hollow chamber, and the heating tank is provided above the side opening of the support and accommodates the one substance when the heating tank is inserted into the opening. A food heating container (first invention) characterized in that it is equipped with a cutting device configured to cut the heated bag as it is inserted and cause a reaction with the other substance; and a heating tank for accommodating two kinds of substances that undergo an exothermic reaction upon mutual contact, the heating tank being closed by a top cover and disposed below the food product tank; A bag containing one of the types of substances sealed from the other and placed in the heating tank; The present invention provides a food heating container (second invention) characterized in that it is provided with a tearing cord coupled to the cover and the bag so as to bring the substances into contact with each other and react with each other.

According to the first invention, one of the two exothermic reactants is sealed from the other in a bag, and the bag is moved in and out of a support provided with a tearing device at the upper end of the opening. It is housed in a box-shaped heating tank, and when the heating tank is inserted into the support, it is cut by the cutting device as the heating tank is inserted, so that the reactant can be stored in the heating tank when necessary. This prevents heat generation due to unintended reactions within the heating tank.

According to the second invention, two types of reactants do not react in the heating tank because one substance is placed in a bag and sealed from the other substance, and the heating tank is closed by a cover on the top surface. As a result of the substance being protected by the double wall, an inadvertent reaction due to destruction of the reactant containing wall due to external force is prevented. In this case, the bag and the cover are designed to have tear openings formed at the same time by the tearing cord, making the operation for heating easier.

Furthermore, in the first aspect of the invention, since the reactant containing bag is torn as the heating tank is inserted into the support, a long tear can be formed along the insertion direction, and in the second aspect of the invention, the tearing cord is By bonding along the cover and bag, a long slit can be formed along the cord, in both cases ensuring a large mutual contact area for more complete reaction of the reactants. .

In the second invention, the food tank has a thickness of 80 mm.
microns or more, spaced apart from the heating tank cover by about 5 mm, and the cover can be about 40 microns thick. In this case, it is protected by a thickness of 120 microns and a gap of 5 mm, making it impossible for the user to make mistakes.

The cover remains on the heating bath during the reaction and when the reaction is completed. The tearing cord simply opens the central portion of the cover longitudinally by the width of the cord, which releases steam to heat the food product container.

In the food heating container of the present invention, the reaction materials can be stored for 13 to 14 months, with gradual and complete reaction occurring upon opening of the pocket.

The container of the invention can be provided with a reusable device or can be disposable.

The bag may be a water-containing pocket, which may be provided with a device for regulating the flow rate of water so that the reaction can be controlled and, if necessary, stopped.

The food tank is preferably made of aluminum foil to improve heat transfer from the heating tank below. The pocket containing water can be a sausage-shaped bag. The sausage-shaped water bladder is suspended 20 to 30 mm above the bottom of the heating tank by locking both ends to the stepped portions. By suspending the sausage-shaped water bladder in this way, water can diffuse well into the calcium oxide when the water bladder is opened.
Unlike the conventional method, water and calcium oxide do not immediately form into balls or lumps, resulting in insufficient reaction.

The sausage-shaped water bladder, the water-containing pocket, or the water-containing portion can be made of various materials as long as they can be completely fused together. These materials must be completely sealable to prevent seepage and evaporation.

Polypropylene with a varnish coating can be used as said material. It is also possible to use very high tear strength polyethylene, high density or average density polyethylene, mixtures of polyester and polyethylene, or mixtures of polyethylene and polypropylene with high tear strength.

In one embodiment of the container of the invention, the sausage-shaped water bladder is centrally located along the length of the bottom wall and is provided with tearing tongues, strings or cords on the sides. The length of the tearing tongue, string or cord is determined by the size of the sausage-shaped water bladder and heating tank, and the tearing method. The tearing cord, etc. is connected, fused or fixed to the sausage-shaped water bladder, and the material of the cord, etc. is determined by the material of the sausage-shaped water bladder and the cover. The sausage-shaped water bladder must be able to obtain a complete seal without being glued to the cover. The tearing cord or the like may be arranged to return around the sausage-shaped bag and be led out from the protective support tank through the hole. The hole is appropriately positioned and sized and also serves as a water vapor outlet, but is closed during storage.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the tearing cord is connected to the outside of the lower surface of the sausage-shaped bag;
fused or fixed. Ripping ears are attached to both sides of the tearing cord at the front end of the sausage-shaped water bag and cover, and the cord disposed in the center of the sausage-shaped water bag and cover is pulled. This ensures that the sausage-shaped bag and the cover are removed smoothly and continuously as much as the width or diameter of the cord. The sausage-shaped water bladder, which is placed on the steps and the bottom of the heating tank, that is, supported at both ends and suspended from the bottom of the heating tank, is pulled on the cord, so that the top and bottom surfaces of the sausage-shaped water bladder are Since the holes are cut uniformly across the entire area to form gaps of 20 to 30 mm, water can be dispersed uniformly and quickly throughout the area. This pulling operation cuts off a portion of said cover and removes the entire cord having a width similar to the tongue.
It is possible to exhaust the steam generated during exothermic reactions,
Food products stored in the upper tub are heated without reducing the safety guaranteed by the thickness of the cover.

In the prior art containers described above, the tongue or cord has the sole function of cutting through the wall or pocket to cause mixing. In contrast, the present invention (second invention) is characterized in that the tearing cord has the following two functions. These functions include opening the bag to allow a reaction to occur and opening the cover to allow heating of the food product contained in the upper tub. Conventionally, there was no separation between the heating tank and the food product tank. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the tearing cord is fixed to one end of the sausage-shaped water bladder; It passes between the upper side of the water bladder and the underside of the cover, and further between the upper side of the cover and the underside of the food tub. The cord is arranged in an S-shape or a U-shape and, when pulled, first opens the safety cover and then tears the sausage-shaped water bladder.

For frozen foods, the container according to the invention can further be equipped with suitable means. In this case, an antifreeze substance is added to the water in the sausage-shaped bladder, which lowers the freezing point to -40°C without changing its physical properties. The calcium oxide is vacuum packaged in the tank and covered with polystyrene or other anti-freeze and/or water-absorbing material, or a composite thereof, to prevent contact with the aluminum; When and during thawing of the food product, frost inside the heating tank is prevented from turning into water droplets and causing the calcium oxide to react unintentionally. The container of the present invention can be a disposable container or a refillable container.

Refillable containers are mainly used by people (campers, yachtsmen, etc.) who have difficulty obtaining food from grocery stores or who need to heat whole foods such as fillet, Lorraine-style chisilla, pizza, etc. is advantageous to use. The container has a cover that performs three main functions:

(a) Protect food products and prevent spoilage.

(b) May be used as a plate for eating or cutting foodstuffs.

(c) Can be used as a steamer.

In northern countries, where the temperature is -15°C to 20°C, it is difficult to heat with conventional tanks.
Food items at the bottom will heat up while food items at the top will remain cold. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the food product storage tank of the container may be provided with double walls. The outer wall is made of polypropylene and the inner wall is made of polypropylene or aluminum, with an air gap between them and a small vent that fits into the lid. The vent opens into a chamber formed in a lid placed on the double wall and into the cavity or heating chamber of the bath. Steam thus enters the lid and heats all the food products in the food container evenly and thoroughly.

Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

The container 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the first invention and includes a support 2 having two housings 3 and 4. The container 1 shown in FIG. An opening 6 is provided in the side 5 of the support 2 . Through the opening 6, items containing reaction substances can be taken in and out, such as a drawer 8, for example. The various reactants, such as calcium oxide and water, are separated and placed in sealed plastic bags. A halo-like cutting device 9 is attached to the opening 6. The tip 10 of the tearing device 9 opens the bag as it passes, allowing the reactants to mix, thereby initiating a chemical reaction and heating of the foodstuffs placed in the housings 3 and 4. . FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a bag containing reaction materials in a partitioned chamber. In the figure, calcium oxide is contained in the peripheral chamber 11, and water is contained in the central chamber 12. FIG. 2 shows a support 2 with an opening 6 in the side 5. In FIG. The opening 6 may have a slit 13 into which a tongue provided on the bag of reaction substance engages when the drawer 8 is pushed in. drawer 8
By pushing in, the tongue-like part is inserted into the slit 1.
3, the bag of reactants is torn open, the contents mixed, and a chemical reaction begins.

The drawer 8 is provided with guides 15 and 16 on the sides 14. The guides 15 and 16 engage rollers 17, which form part of a rocking device on which the striking or tearing device 9 is mounted. When the drawer 8 is completely pulled out from the support 2, the toothed tip 10 of the harrow 9 is separated from the drawer 8. The user can refill the chamber 11 of the drawer 8 with reaction substances. By pushing the drawer 8 past the rollers 17 and into the support 2, the harrow 9 swings into contact with the bag of reactant material and immediately cuts it open. The advantage of this embodiment is that it is possible to refill the reaction materials and thus provides a heating container that can be used at all times.

In other embodiments of the invention, the heating container may be disposable. The support 18 is provided with a foodstuff receptacle 19.

4 to 9 show embodiments of the second invention. In the container shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the container 20 is arranged below the foodstuff container 19 and contains the reactants, namely calcium oxide 21 and tank water 22. The housing section 20 containing the reaction substances 21 and 22 is covered by a cover 2.
It is sealed by 3.

Once the protective plate 25 is broken, the cord 26 can be pulled by the opening tool 24, thereby opening the bag containing the water 22 and starting the reaction.

As is clear from FIGS. 4 and 6, the bag is not particularly fixed to the housing part 20, but the cord 2
6 is pulled, the bag and cover 23 come into contact over a relatively large area, and the edges of the accommodating part 20 are fixed to the container, so the bag and cover 23 are held based on this, and the cord and cover 23 are held together. The bag and cover are torn apart due to external forces concentrated at the contact points of the bag and cover.

The water containment bag may further include a check valve or non-return valve to control the outflow of water and the resulting chemical reactions and therefore heat generation.
A return valve) may also be provided.

In some cases, it is preferred that the food product container is placed in a freezer to contain frozen products. To do this, the water storage section must not freeze or burst. Therefore, it is desirable to add to the water a substance that lowers the freezing point of the water, such as ethanol or denatured alcohol.

FIG. 7 shows a heating tank 30 equipped with calcium oxide 31 and a sausage-shaped water bladder 32.
The sausage bladder 32 is suspended by its ends 33 and 34, which rest on steps 35 and 36 above the bottom 37 of the heating tank 30.

A tearing cord 38 is connected to the end 33 of the sausage-shaped water bladder 32. The cord 38 passes under a safety cover 39 as shown in FIG.

The tearing cord 38 may be arranged as shown in FIG. 7 and 8 best illustrate the two functions of tearing cord 38.

In FIG. 7, the tearing cord 38 extends from step 36 to step 35. In FIG. The cord 38 emerges from the underside of the end 34, ie between the step 36 and the supporting end of the sausage bladder.
The supporting ends of the water bladder are secured to steps 35, 36 for tearing as will be described below.

In FIG. 8, the tearing cord 38 exits the end 34 of the sausage bladder 32, passes over the top of the sausage bladder 32, passes over the cover 39, and extends along the inner wall of the protective support tank 40. , protective support tank 40
and the height of the flange of the food product tank 41.

FIG. 8 also shows a protective support tank 11 forming a housing for a heating tank and food tank 41. FIG.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a self-heating container with a lid 42. FIG. The lid part 42 consists of two parts 43 and 44. The lid part 42 is provided with a small ventilation part 45 communicating with the chamber 46. The chamber 46 is formed by the bottom 47 of the food product tank 41 and the cover 39 of the heating tank 30. In this example as well, the supporting ends of the sausage-shaped water bladder 32 are fixed to the stepped portions 35, 36 so as to be able to be torn by the cord 38, as in the example shown in FIG.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure shows an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the support of the container shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example of a bag of reaction substances, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another example container, FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view of still another example container, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of one example of a heating tank. A side view, FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a container of still another embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a container of still another embodiment. 2...Support, 5...Side part, 6...Opening, 8
...Drawer, 9...Tearing device, 11, 12...
Chamber, 13...slit, 14...side, 15,1
6... Guide section, 17... Roller, 21, 22...
... Reaction substance, 23 ... Cover, 24 ... Opening device, 26 ... Cord, 30 ... Heating tank, 31 ...
Calcium oxide, 32... Sausage-shaped bag, 3
3, 34... end, 35, 36... step, 37...
...Bottom, 38...Tearing cord, 39...Cover, 40...Protection support tank, 41...Food tank, 4
2... Lid, 43, 44... Wall, 45... Vent, 46... Chamber, 47... Bottom.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A support having a food product tank in the upper part for accommodating food products to be heated and a hollow chamber with a side opening formed in the lower part, which causes an exothermic reaction upon mutual contact with the support. A heating tank is used to store two types of substances in a bag with one substance sealed from the other substance and in contact with the other substance, and the bag is brought into and out of the hollow chamber through the lower opening of the support. the heating tank has a box-like shape with an open top; and a bag that is provided at the top of the side opening of the support and contains the one substance when the heating tank is inserted into the opening. A food heating container characterized in that it comprises a tearing device adapted to simultaneously cause a reaction with the other substance. 2. A food tank for accommodating food products to be heated; and a heating tank that contains two types of substances that undergo an exothermic reaction upon mutual contact, is closed by a cover on the top surface, and is disposed below the food product tank. , a bag containing one of the two types of substances in a sealed state from the other and placed in the heating tank;
It is characterized by comprising a tearing cord coupled to the cover and the bag so as to form tear openings in both the cover and the bag when pulled, thereby bringing the two types of substances into contact and reacting. food heating container.