WO1992016433A1

WO1992016433A1 - Device for generating a vacuum

Info

Publication number: WO1992016433A1
Application number: PCT/DE1992/000193
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelm RÖSCH
Original assignee: Roesch Wilhelm
Priority date: 1991-03-15
Filing date: 1992-03-06
Publication date: 1992-10-01
Also published as: DE4108405C1; AU1369192A

Abstract

The proposal is for a device for generating a vacuum in food containers (1) or boxes in which a vacuum generator in the form of a suction cup (11) is placed on the aperture (8) in the cover (6) which is sealed off by a check valve (11). This suction cup in the form of a round soft plastic plate is applied by the cover via a lever system (12) so that, owing to the outer edge acting as a diaphragm, a vacuum is generated which ensures that the check valve (10) opens so that air flows from the inside of the container into the suction cup (11) which, on reaching its corresponding end position, is lifted off the cover (6) and may then be lowered once again for a further suction process.

Description

Device for generating a vacuum

The invention relates to a device for generating a vacuum in a container provided in particular for the storage of foodstuffs with a detachably arranged cover with a sealing ring and a closable opening for connecting the vacuum generator.

Such devices are known for a wide variety of purposes, the general aim being to To make goods last longer by storing them in a vacuum. In a locking device known from DE-PS 442 684, a hand pump serves as a vacuum pump, the open side of which is designed as a suction bell and has a helical spring which constantly presses on a rigid, curved sealing lid of the preserving jar during the evacuation process. Before evacuation, the cover and the seal are placed in a recess in the cover, which is formed concentrically around the hole in the cover and the bottom of which is curved. Since the constant pressure on the helical spring does not produce a high vacuum, it is tedious to operate the hand pump for just one person and the formation of the recess in the manufacture of the preserving jar is difficult, such a closing device is far too complex and difficult to handle.

From DE-PS 366 124 it is known to use a water jet pump for the evacuation and closing of such containers, but a special design of the water jet pump is not described. The subject of DE-OS 19 35 193 is then a corresponding water jet pump, which, however, has the disadvantage that the linear water jet only entrains little air, so that a much too high water consumption occurs to reach the vacuum.

From DE-GM 19 16 615 is a switchable valve provided in the cover, the required piston pump being screwed onto a threaded connector which is also a valve body. The user should then open the valve by rotating it, evacuate the container by pulling on the piston and close the valve again by turning it back while the piston is pulled. Handling during evacuation is very complex and only possible if the lid is screwed onto the other container. Such a device has therefore not been able to establish itself.

A corresponding evacuation device is known from DE-OS 29 19 9oo.6, in which an electrically driven vacuum pump is used. This vacuum pump is housed in the actual container, so that you need a corresponding separate space for it. If necessary, such a device cannot be cleaned or only with considerable effort. In addition, the supply cable must be led through the lid, which can also cause hygienic problems. A corresponding solution is also shown in DE-OS 37 44 lo3.5, which also has the disadvantage that a separate space is required to accommodate this pump and that the pump then also remains in an air-free container, so that the capacity is accommodated of such a container is limited. In addition, the rule and the installation effort is much too high.

The invention has for its object to provide an evacuation device of simple construction with which the necessary negative pressure can be produced without additives, in particular energy.

The object is achieved in that a check valve is arranged in the opening of the cover and that the vacuum generator has a suction that can be removed from the cover. bowl with a soft outer edge that also serves as a membrane.

By integrating a check valve in the lid, there is first of all the possibility of closing off the interior of the container from the atmosphere in such a way that a negative pressure once established is also guaranteed to be maintained. In a check valve designed in this way, balls are usually used, which are pressed onto their sealing ring due to the negative pressure prevailing in the interior of the container, so that a complete seal is ensured. For the actual evacuation, the check valve is raised by the vacuum generator, the air present there being pumped out at the same time. As a vacuum generator, a suction cup is used, which is designed so that it seals when placed on the surface of the lid in the area of the opening, so that when the suction cup is pulled up, the check valve inevitably opens and air is sucked out of the container interior until the suction force of the outer edge is no longer sufficient to ensure the seal on the surface of the lid. The suction cup is then practically lifted off the surface, so that a new evacuation process can then be started. The advantage here is that a separate chamber for attaching the vacuum pump is not required, but that it is quasi provided by the suction cup, a second valve also being unnecessary here, because the outer edge serving as a membrane ensures the necessary and secure sealing . Another advantage is that such a vacuum generator can be operated practically with one hand, but at least very easily, the check valve automatically closing again when the suction cup is removed from the cover, so that the vacuum once established in the interior of the container is also maintained. It is particularly advantageous that such an evacuation device or a vacuum generator can be easily came to be cleaned, which can be done in connection with the lid or separately, since the individual parts can be disassembled without problems. The device according to the invention can be used both for evacuating solid containers, for example glasses, and for evacuating plastic bags into which food is to be enclosed. For this purpose, a hose which is inserted in the bag is connected to the lid or to a corresponding device and then also air is drawn out of the bag with the aid of the suction cup until all the air has been pumped out and then by welding of the bag mat as the necessary closure is made. Monitoring of the evacuation process is possible without any problems, because with the help of the suction cup, air can only be pumped out of the container for as long as it is in it. When the vacuum is complete, the suction cup will no longer need to be removed from the cover, so that the user can easily see that his goal has been reached.

According to an expedient embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the suction cup is arranged such that it can be removed from the cover via a lever mechanism which is supported on the cover or on the container. With the help of such a lever mechanism, the evacuation process can be considerably accelerated and, in particular, made easier, since the force to be exerted on the suction cup can be transmitted much better, in particular when the vacuum is approximately produced. Since the lever mechanism is supported on the lid or on the container, the lever itself or the lever mechanism can be operated with only one hand, which considerably simplifies the overall process.

Another expedient training provides that the lever mechanism has a lever arm which fits against the palm of the hand and is adapted to the interior of the hand. By This hand-compliant design of the lever arm significantly improves the ergonomics of such a device, so that in particular the housewives will also be able to handle and handle such a device more easily. In addition, the hand can also be placed at the same time so that it is also supported on the lid with two fingers, so that the evacuation process is additionally promoted and accelerated.

In order to favor the evacuation device of the suction cup, the invention provides that the lever mechanism of the suction cup, which has an integrated pulling die in the middle, is designed to move approximately vertically upwards. This prevents the suction cup or its outer edge from tilting and thus ensures that the outer edge adheres until it is detached from the cover. In addition, the vacuum specified or to be specified by the suction cup can also be fully utilized, so that the number of individual evacuation processes is reduced.

For better cleaning of the device it is provided that the lever gear is detachably connected to the cover, so that it can be used above all for several evacuation processes or several containers, so that the costs of such a device are minimized. The detachable connection with the lid has the advantage that there is no need for additional support on the lid during the evacuation process.

The device according to the invention has a particularly favorable suction or pumping action if the suction head has a flat, soft plastic round plate and a thickened outer edge. The thickened outer edge ensures that, with such a design, it ensures the necessary adhesion to the surface of the lid until there is sufficient under-suction inside the suction cup. pressure is generated, which guarantees not only for opening the check valve l, but also for pumping out a corresponding amount of air.

In order to positively influence the pumping process with the aid of the suction cup, it is provided that in addition to the thickened outer edge, the center of the round plate also thickened and an intermediate ring has 1/3 to 1/2 of its wall thickness. The shape of the suction cup when lifting or pumping is thus predetermined and, in turn, favorably supports that the thickened outer edge maintains contact and tight contact with the surface of the cover for as long as possible.

A simple, yet fully effective version of the check valve is one in which the check valve is an elastic disk covering the opening and lying flat on the cover. This elastic disc is lifted out of its position when the suction cup is pulled up, so that the air can penetrate under the elastic disc into the cavity formed by the suction cup. As soon as the lifting process of the suction cup is interrupted or the suction cup lifts off the surface of the cover, the elastic disc is pulled back into its starting position, so that it then completely closes the opening in the cover again. Due to the special shape of the suction cup or the soft plastic round plate with the thickened center, the disc can be held down for as long as necessary, which then only lifts off when the suction cup is raised.

For the secure position of the elastic disc, it is advantageous if it is arranged in a circular recess in the cover with its surface. By means of appropriate webs, their exact position can also be specified if there is a larger recess is used as the diameter of the disc. In any case, a targeted lifting or sealing can be ensured in this way, because the pane always rests securely on the lid.

An effective seal between the lid and the container is ensured if, as provided according to the invention, the edge of the container on which the lid with the sealing ring arranged on the underside rests is flat, since in this way the container is already at the start of suction Any remaining air, the resulting negative pressure can ensure complete sealing. The edge of the container then seals completely with the lid or the sealing ring attached underneath and ensures the closure of the food stored in the container. This is particularly the case if, as is provided in accordance with a further development, the edge is formed with sharp edges. With sharp edges, however, it is not a cutting edge that is provided, but rather such a precisely specified edge that ensures the sealing described above.

Depending on the type of container, the sealing effect can be promoted by the fact that the sealing ring consists of flexible material, preferably soft plastic. He can thus lay around the edge or on the edge of the container in a sealing manner without the risk that the lid or the like can be tilted. Measures Air penetrates into the interior of the container in order to influence or even cancel the vacuum.

Advantageously, a precisely defined edge is specified in that a somewhat protruding metal ring is embedded in the edge. This metal ring ensures a tight and precisely defined seal with the sealing ring, which is arranged below the cover or in the Lid is integrated.

In order to be able to check the vacuum inside the container, a pressure gauge connected to the container interior and the atmosphere can be integrated in the lid. The construction of this manometer is extremely simple, since it only has to indicate the difference between the pressure in the container and the atmospheric pressure, which is low. With the help of appropriate markings, the housewife or the user can be made easier to work with such a device, since the expedient limit can thus be checked easily.

The invention is characterized in particular by the fact that an evacuation device is created with which fresh-keeping boxes etc. Containers can be easily traded. With a few strokes or a few movements of the suction cup, it is possible to specify such a negative pressure in the container that the container as a whole is completely sealed off from the atmosphere. In addition, the air then present in the container can also be completely sucked out, so that the food and food contained therein can be kept for much longer periods of time without the risk of spoilage. The possibility of disassembling and then cleaning the parts of the fresh-keeping box quickly and easily also offers considerable advantages, particularly for use in the food sector.

Further details and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which preferred exemplary embodiments are shown with the necessary details and individual parts. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a fresh food box with evacuation device 2 a suction cup in plan view,

3 is a suction cup in section,

4 shows a cover with a simplified check valve 1, FIG. 5 shows a top view of the lever mechanism, and FIG. 6 shows a manometer integrated in the cover.

1 shows a simplified illustration of a fresh-keeping box (1), in the container (2) of which food (3) is kept. These foods (3) fill approximately the interior of the container (4), the container interior (4 ') which remains free should be kept almost free of oxygen. The device explained further below, to which the container (2) also belongs, serves this purpose.

A lid (6) is provided, sealingly resting on the edge (5) of the container (2), which has a sealing ring (7) on the underside. This sealing ring (7) ensures that the lid (6) is pressed tightly onto the edge (5) when a negative pressure arises in the interior of the container (4 ¹ ).

An opening (8) is provided in the cover (6), to which or onto which a vacuum generator (9) is placed, so that it even seals in the position shown in FIG. 1,

Integrated in the cover (6) is a check valve (lo) which opens when the suction cup (11) is lifted so that the air inside the container (4 ') can flow out through the opening (8). As explained, the suction cup (11), which generates a corresponding negative pressure, serves here as a vacuum generator (9) until it lifts off the cover (6). When the suction cup (11) is lifted off the cover (6), the check valve (lo) then automatically closes, so that air cannot flow back into the container interior (4 'or 4) through the opening (8). lo

A lever mechanism (12) is provided for easier and more uniform actuation of the suction cup (11), on the lever arm (13) of which the housewife or the other operator presses, in order to simultaneously pull the suction cup (11) up from the cover (6), that, as explained further above, the check valve (lo) opens and air from the container interior (4) can flow into the cavity created by the suction cup (11). As a result of this and due to the corresponding pulling action which is generated via the lever arm (13), the suction cup (11) then lifts off and is then lowered again via the lever arm (13) onto the cover (6) in order to Prepare the next pumping process and then carry it out. The necessary pressure on the lever arm (13) can be generated without any problems because it is supported on the cover (6) or possibly also on the container (2) via the tension stamp (14). At the same time, the hand of the operator or two fingers of him can be supported on the cover (6), so that at the same time the cover (6) is prevented from lifting when the suction cup (11) is actuated.

2 and 3 show an embodiment of the suction cup (11), it being clear that this has a thickened outer edge (17) and a likewise thickened center (19), between which a kind of ring (2o) with a thinned Wall thickness runs. Such a soft plastic round plate (18) automatically leads when lifting via the tension ram (14) to form a cavity with a correspondingly high vacuum when the outer edge (17) is sealed onto the cover (6), into which, after opening the check valve (lo ) Air can flow in from the container interior (4, 4 ').

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, an elastic disk (22), preferably made of soft plastic, serves as a check valve (10), which is inserted into a circular recess (23) in the cover (6). This gives a continuously flat surface (24) of the cover (6) and elastic disc (22). The elastic disc (22) seals the opening (8), so that after vacuuming and creating a vacuum, air can no longer flow into the container interior (4) from the outside. It goes without saying that for this purpose the elastic disc (22) lies on the surface (24) of the cover or in the corresponding recess (23), while the underside (25) of the cover (6) in this area is separated from the sealing ring (7 ) is kept free. Corresponding clarifies Fig. 4.

The edge (5) of the container (2) has a completely identical ^" plane, a metal ring (26) being able to be embedded in the edge (5) for improvement, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. About this metal ring (26) a uniform and advantageous seal is ensured in this area because the metal ring (26) can press into or even into the sealing ring (7).

Fig. 5 illustrates the special design of the end of the lever arm (13), which is designed to conform to the hand in order to allow the application of as uniform a pressure as possible while supporting with two or three fingers on the lid (6). The suction cup (11) can thus be pulled off the cover (6) with great force and at the same time securing, in order to carry out the pumping process.

Fig. 6 shows a manometer (28) which is integrated in the cover (6). With (29) there is a label which is intended to make it easier for the user to recognize and achieve the optimum pressure ratio within the container interior (4, 4 ') and then to comply with it accordingly. For this purpose, the pointer (3o) travels on the predefined scale (31), and when the identification (29) is reached, a suitable signal can also be used to provide the user with information. The embodiment shown in the figures described is intended for self-stable containers (2). A device that is basically the same can also be used to empty bags. For this purpose, a hose is connected to the opening (8) in the lid (6), which extends into the bag, so that when the suction cup (11) or, better said, the corresponding pump is actuated, air is simultaneously sucked out of the interior of the bag via the hose until the desired pressure ratio is established. Then the hose is pulled out of the bag and this is effectively closed, so that the negative pressure can be maintained and secured for a correspondingly long time.

All of the features mentioned, including those that can be seen in the drawings alone, are regarded as essential to the invention, alone and in combination.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Device for generating a vacuum in a container provided in particular for storing food with a detachably arranged lid with a sealing ring and a closable opening for connecting the vacuum generator, characterized in that a check valve in the opening (8) of the lid (6) (lo) and that the vacuum generator (9) is a removable suction cup (11) with a soft outer rim (17) which also serves as a membrane.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the suction cup (11) via a lever gear (12), which is supported on the lid (6) or on the container (2), is arranged removable from the lid.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the lever gear (12) has a lever arm (13) lying against the heel of the hand and adapted to the interior of the hand.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the lever gear (12) the suction cup (11), which has an integrated tension punch (14) in the center, is designed to move approximately vertically upward.

5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever mechanism (12) is releasably connected to the cover (6).

6. The device according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the suction cup (11) has a flat, soft plastic round plate (18) and a thickened outer edge (17).

7. The device according to claim 1 and claim 6, characterized in that in addition to the thickened outer edge (17) also thickened the center (19) of the round plate (18) and an intermediate ring (2o) 1/3 to 1/2 of their wall thickness .

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the check valve (lo) is a, the opening (8) cover ^¬ de on the cover (6) lying flat disc (22).

9. The device according to claim 8, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the disc (22) in a circular recess (23) of the cover (6) with its surface (24) is finally arranged.

10. The device according to claim 2, so that the edge (5) of the container (2) on which the lid (6) with the sealing ring (7) arranged on the underside (25) rests is flat.

11. The device according to claim 10, that the edge (5) is sharp-edged.

12. The device according to claim lo, characterized in that the sealing ring (7) consists of flexible material, preferably soft plastic.

13. The apparatus of claim lo, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a slightly protruding metal ring (26) is embedded in the edge (5).

14. The apparatus of claim 1 d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a manometer (28) connected to the container interior (4) and the atmosphere is integrated into the lid (6).