WO2004085285A1

WO2004085285A1 - Method for heating food products in a container

Info

Publication number: WO2004085285A1
Application number: PCT/NL2004/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaap Hendrik Roukens
Original assignee: Supplair B.V.
Priority date: 2003-03-28
Filing date: 2004-03-26
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Also published as: EP1608570A1; NL1024631C1

Abstract

Method for heating food products in a hot-air oven, in particular the hot-air oven in the gallery of a passenger aircraft. In the method, use is made of stackable containers (1) made from heat-resistant cardboard for heating one or more food products accommodated in the container, in particular packaged food products, such as bread rolls which are served to aircraft passengers, in the hot-air oven. The container has a base (2) for supporting the food products, as well as side walls (3, 4) and an open top side. The container can be stacked directly on one or more identical containers. The base and side walls of the container are provided with one or more cutouts (5, 6), in such a manner that hot air can flow through each of the containers in a stack of containers for the purpose of heating the food products.

Description

METHOD FOR HEATING FOOD PRODUCTS IN A CONTAINER

The invention relates to the heating of food products in a hot- air oven, in particular in a hot-air oven in the galley of a (passenger) aircraft.

Passenger aircraft have a galley in which the crew can prepare food products for the passengers. In the galley, there are one or more hot-air ovens in order to allow warm food products, such as for example warm bread rolls, to be served.

The hot-air ovens have an oven space in which hot air is circulated. To make efficient use of the oven, there is a rack in which, in the method which has been employed hitherto, stacking trays with packaged food products, such as for example separately packaged bread rolls, thereon, are placed on top of one another.

For this purpose, the crew must first remove the food products from a box and place them on the stacking trays, then place the stacking trays into the rack and then push the filled rack into the oven.

The method described above is time-consuming, laborious for the crew and, moreover, does not allow optimum utilization of the oven capacity.

It is an object of the invention to propose measures which eliminate one or more of the abovementioned drawbacks.

The invention provides a method for heating food products in a hot-air oven, in particular the hot-air oven in the galley of a (passenger) aircraft, in which use is made of stackable containers made from heat-resistant cardboard.

The invention enables a stack of containers with the food products inside them to be placed in the hot-air oven without the intervention of the abovementioned stacking trays. This involves considerably less work than placing the food products onto the abovementioned stacking trays. Furthermore, given appropriate dimensioning of. the container with respect to the food products held therein, more layers of food products fit into the oven, so that the capacity of the oven can be utilized more successfully.

Forming the containers from heat-resistant cardboard keeps the weight of the containers low, which is important in air travel. Moreover, the cardboard containers can be simply disposed of, if appropriate for recycling, after use, and consequently there is no need for cleaning work.

The container is advantageously designed in such a manner that containers which are stacked on top of one another engage in one another so as to form a stable stack.

In one possible embodiment, a container, in the stacked state, is partially nestable in the open top side of a container positioned beneath it, and each container is provided with supporting formations, by means of which the container, in the nested position, is supported on the container below it.

In another possible embodiment, the container is provided at its top side with one or more stacking projections and is provided on its underside with a mating formation for each stacking projection, so that the stacking projection of one container engages with a mating formation of a container stacked on top of it.

The invention also relates to the stackable container made from heat-resistant cardboard which, according to the invention, can highly advantageously be used to heat food products in a hot-air oven, in particular in a galley of an aircraft.

The method and stackable containers according to the invention and preferred embodiments thereof are described in the claims and in the following description with reference to the drawing, which illustrates exemplary embodiments and in which: Fig. la shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the container according to the invention;

Fig. lb shows a detail of the container from Figure la; Fig. 2 shows a possible blank for forming the container shown in

Figure 1;

Fig. 3 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the container according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows a detail of the container from Figure 3;

Fig. 5 shows a possible blank for forming the container from

Figure 3;

Fig. 6 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of the container according to the invention, and

Fig. 7 shows a possible blank for forming the container from

Figure 6.

Figures 1 and 2 show a stackable container 1 made from heat- resistant cardboard for heating one or more food products accommodated in the container, in particular packaged food products, such as especially individually film-wrapped bread rolls which are served to the passengers in an aircraft, in a hot-air oven.

The container 1 is folded from a single blank 10 (cf. Figure 2) made from suitable cardboard and has a rectangular base 2 for supporting the food products, as well as upright long side walls 3 and short side walls 4. The top side is an open top side. In the base 2 there are cutouts 5 and in the long side walls 3 there are cutouts 6.

The container 1 can be stacked directly on top of one or more identical containers 1. This stack can then be placed into the oven in order to heat the food products with the aid of hot air. Since the base 2 and the side walls 3 of the container 1 are provided with cutouts 5, 6, this hot air can flow through each of the containers 1 in a stack of containers 1. The containers 1 in a stack of containers 1 engage in one another so as to form a stable stack. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, this is realized by virtue of the fact that a stacked container 1 is partially nested (for example over a quarter or a third of its height) in the open top side of a container 1 positioned beneath it. For this purpose, the container 1 is provided with a supporting formation 7 at each of the corners, by means of which the container 1, in the stacked position, is supported on the container 1 below it.

The container 1 is also suitable for serving the heated food products to the passengers. This is facilitated by virtue of the fact that the container 1 is provided with handles 8 for picking up the container 1.

The handles 8 are in this case formed by a strip 8 which projects outwards from the top edge of each short side wall 4. This strip 8 also connects the top side of two supporting formations 7 located at the corners.

Figure lb illustrates the structure of a supporting formation 7, as well as the coupling between the side walls 3, 4. The side wall 4 is formed by a side wall surface 4a, which adjoins the base surface 2 via a fold line, and an extension surface 4b, which adjoins the side wall surface 4a via the intervening strip 8 and fold lines 4c, d.

The extension surface 4b is folded onto the outer side of the side wall surface 4a and fixed in place.

At the corner of the container 1, the extension surface 4b forms a box section 9 which is open from the sides, around which a coupling lip 11 of the side wall 3 is folded and into which an end 11a, which has been folded into a V shape, of the coupling lip 11 is introduced. In this way, the side walls 3, 4 are coupled at the corners and a stable supporting formation 7 is created. A second stackable container 20 made from heat-resistant cardboard according to the invention will now be explained with reference to Figures 3-5. The container 20 can be folded from a single blank 30 (cf. Figure 5), in which context it should be noted that the components 24a are missing from the blank 30.

The container 20 is also intended to receive one or more food products, in particular packaged food products, such as film- wrapped bread rolls which are served to aircraft passengers.

The container 20 has a base 21 with cutouts 22 for supporting the one or more food products, as well as short side walls 23, long side walls 24 and an open top side. The container 20 can be stacked directly on one or more identical containers 20. Hot air can flow through the openings 22 in the base 21 through each of the containers 20 in a stack of containers 20 in order to heat the food products.

It will be clear that it is possible to provide for parts of the top edge of the container to be designed with a lower height than other parts of the top edge so that, in a stack, openings are formed at the location of the lower top-edge parts of the containers .

The container 20 is designed in such a manner that containers 20 which are stacked on top of one another engage in one another so as to form a stable stack. For this purpose, each container 20 is provided, at the top side of each short side wall 23, with two upwardly projecting stacking projections 25. At its underside, the container 20 is provided with receiving openings 26 in the region where the base 21 adjoins the short side walls 23.

As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the side walls 23, 24 of the container 20, at the top side, have an inwardly folded strip 23a, 24a, so that an inwardly projecting rim is formed.

At each corner, the long side walls 24 have a folded-over coupling lip 24b which is located along the inner side of the short side wall 23. A part 24d of the coupling lip 24b extends into the region of the opening 26. Furthermore, a part 24c of the coupling lip 24b projects upwards through an opening 27 in the folded-over strip 23a next to the stacking projection 25.

When containers 20 are being stacked, the part 24d of each coupling lip 24b comes to lie between the adjacent stacking projection 25 and part 24c of the container 20 located below it.

It can also be seen from Figures 3-5 that each short side wall 23, at the ends, has folded-over flaps 23c which lie along the outer side of side wall 24. At the bottom edge, each flap 23c has an inwardly projecting coupling lip 23d, which is fitted into a slot-like insertion opening 27 in the fold between base 21 and side wall 24.

A third stackable container 40 made from heat-resistant cardboard according to the invention will now be explained with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The container 40 can be formed from a single blank 50 (cf . Figure 7) .

The container 40 is likewise intended to hold one or more food products which are to be heated, for example for aircraft passengers .

The container 40 has a base 41 with cutouts 42, as well as short side walls 43 and long side walls 44 and an open top side. The container 40 can be stacked directly on one or more identical containers 40.

The short side walls 43 are each provided with two rectangular openings 46 which can be used as handles. An outwardly projecting supporting flap 47 is present along the vertical side edges of each of these openings 46. The container 40 can be supported on the top edge of a container 40 beneath it by means of the supporting flaps 47, so as to form a stack. It can be seen from the blank that the short side walls 43 each have a top strip 43c, which in the folded-over, horizontal position can be supported on the top side of the supporting flaps 47, in Figure 6, these strips 43c are still pointing upwards.

The long side walls 44 each have a low centre part 44a, so that an opening is left clear between the top edge of the said centre part 44a and the base 41 of a container 40 stacked on top of the container 40. Via these openings, the cutouts 42 in the base and the openings 46, air, for example hot air, can circulate through the container 40.

The centre part 44a is reinforced (as can be seen from the blank) by virtue of the fact that centre part 44a is formed from a first part 44al which adjoins the base 41, a second part 44a2 which is to be folded inwards, and also a third part 44a3 which is to be folded in between the parts 44al and 44a2. Lips 44a4 project into openings 44a5 along the corner between the base 41 and the first part 44al.

It can also be seen from the blank that the short side walls 43 are provided with corner flaps 43a, which are fixed via an adhesive bond or the like to the adjacent, higher parts 44b of the long side walls 44. Moreover, these corners flaps 43a have a lip 43b which, in the assembled state of the container 40, fits between the first and second side wall parts 44al, 44a2.

The containers 1, 20 and 40 can highly advantageously be used to heat food products in a hot-air oven, in particular the hot-air oven in the galley of a (passenger) aircraft, with a stack of containers 1, 20, 40 stacked directly on top of one another with one or more food products in each container being placed into the oven.

Claims

1. Method for heating food products in a hot-air oven, in particular the hot-air oven in the galley of a (passenger) aircraft, in which use is made of one or more containers which can be placed in the hot-air oven and each have a base on which one or more food products are placed, characterized in that use is made of stackable containers (1; 20; 40) made from heat- resistant cardboard, each container (1; 20; 40) having a base (2; 21; 41) for supporting one or more food products, as well as side walls (3, 4; 23, 24; 43, 44) and an open top side, the containers being stacked directly on top of one another in the hot-air oven and the base and side walls of each container (1; 20; 40) being provided with one or more cutouts (5, 6; 22; 42, 46) , in such a manner that hot air can flow through each of the containers in the stack of containers (1; 20; 40) for the purpose of heating the food products.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which the containers (1; 20; 40) are designed in such a manner that containers which are stacked on top of one another engage in one another so as to form a stable stack.

3. Method according to claim 2, in which a container (1; 40), in the stacked state, is partially nestable in the open top side of a container positioned beneath it, and in which the container (1; 40) is provided with supporting formations (7; 47), by means of which the container, in the nested position, is supported on the container below it.

4. Method according to claim 3, in which the container' (20) is provided at its top side with one or more stacking projections

(25, 24c) and is provided on its underside with a mating formation (26, 24d) for each stacking projection, so that the stacking projection of one container engages with a mating formation of a container stacked on top of it.

5. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the base is rectangular and the container (1; 20; 40) has upright side walls surrounding it.

6. Method according to claims 2 and 5, in which the container

(1) is provided, at each of the corners, with a supporting formation (7), preferably outside the periphery of the side walls .

7. Method according to claims 4 and 5, in which the container (20) is provided, at each corner, with a stacking projection (25) on the top side, and the container, in the region of the base, is provided with a receiving opening (26) for each stacking projection.

8. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the container (1; 40) is provided with one or more handles (8; 46) for picking up the container.

9. Method according to claims 5 and 8, in which the container is provided with a handle (8; 46) at opposite side walls.

10. Method according to claim 9, in which each handle (8) is formed by a strip which projects outwards from the top edge of the side wall.

11. Method according to claims 3 and 9, in which the strip (8) which forms the handle connects the top side of two supporting formations (7) located at the corners.

12. Method according to claim 5, in which the side walls (23, 24) of the container have an inwardly folded strip (23a, 24a) at the top side.

13. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the container (1; 20; 40) is formed from a single blank.

14. Method according to claim 13, in which the blank has a rectangular base surface (2) , on each side of this base surface a side wall surface adjoining the base surface via a fold line, an extension surface (4b) adjoining the side wall surfaces (4a) on the short sides of the base surface via a fold line, which extension surface is folded onto the outer side of the side wall surface and fixed in place, a handle strip (8), which faces outwards and can be taken hold of by hand, also being formed between the extension surface and the side wall surface (4a) , as well as coupling formations (9) at the corners of the container, which are coupled to corresponding coupling formations (11) at the corners of the side wall surfaces (4) on the long sides of the container.

15. Method according to claim 13, in which the blank (30) has a rectangular base surface, a side wall surface adjoining the base surface on each side via a fold line, a strip (23a) adjoining a plurality of side wall surfaces via a fold line, which strip project inwards from the top edge of the side wall surface, flaps (23c) adjoining the strips next to two opposite side walls and having an associated coupling lip (23d) , in such a manner that the said flaps are located along the outer side of the other side walls and the coupling lips each project into an insertion opening (27) at the corner between the base and the other side wall.

16. Method according to claim 15, in which two receiving openings (26) are provided at each of two opposite side wall surfaces (23) of the container (20), in the region where the base surface adjoins the side wall surface, and in which the side walls in question, at their top edge, each form two stacking projections (25, 24c) which fit into the associated cutout in a container which is stacked on top of it.

17. Method according to claim 3, in which the short side walls are each provided with one or more, preferably rectangular, openings (46) which can preferably be used as a handle, an outwardly projecting supporting flap (47) being formed along the vertical side edges of each of these openings (46) , so that the container (40) can be supported by means of these supporting flaps (47) on the top edge of a container (40) positioned beneath it, so as to form a stack.

18. Stackable container made from heat-resistant cardboard designed and adepted for use in the method according to one or more of the preceding claims.

19. Blank made from heat-resistant cardboard for producing a container according to one or more of the preceding claims.

20. Method for allowing aircraft crew to serve heated food products to aircraft passengers, which food products have been heated by means of a method according to one or more of claims 1-17, in which the containers, after heating, are taken out of the hot-air oven and the food products are served to the aircraft passengers direct from the containers.