Packaging system for the preservation and transport of food
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- ES · ES
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-06
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Field of invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a container system for storing and transporting foodstuffs according to claim 1. State of the art
[0002] Meal trays are frequently used in the professional catering industry to transport and serve meals in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. The traditional tray concept consists of two main components: the tray itself and the food, which is served in suitable containers on the tray. The tray serves as a support and must therefore be sufficiently rigid and sturdy to bear the weight of the meal and other components such as cutlery, bread, etc. The containers placed on top of the tray serve to hold and store food; they often need to be sealed at the top to prevent food contamination and ensure the food remains in perfect condition. The two components, tray and food containers, are independent of each other and not connected.This means that the entire weight of the meal containers must be supported by the tray (see . Figure 1 ).
[0003] One consequence of this is that the carrying tray must be quite thick to achieve the necessary rigidity. Carrying trays typically have a thickness between 3 and 6 mm. They are usually made of durable materials such as resins, laminated wood, or durable plastics. They must be washed and sterilized / disinfected after each use.
[0004] Food containers can be made from durable (reusable) materials such as ceramic, resins, or durable plastics and, like the serving trays, must be washed and sterilized / disinfected after each use. Very often in recent years, reusable food containers have been replaced by disposable food containers, which are generally made of plastic or other single-use materials. Disposable food containers have the advantage that they do not need to be washed and sterilized / disinfected after each service but can simply be disposed of along with the leftover food. Given the reduced washing effort associated with disposable food containers, professional caterers, hospitals, clinics, and school cafeterias are also striving to avoid washing the serving trays in order to save water, energy, chemicals, and time.
[0005] Alternative solutions in this area propose to mold the carrying trays directly in a single piece with suitable cavities of varying sizes and depths (see Figure 2 ), in order to combine both the carrying function of the tray and the storage function of the food containers.
[0006] Such combined serving trays / food containers, hereinafter also referred to as meal trays (MTs), can be made of thermoformable plastics or of bagasse, wood chips, etc. The main disadvantage of these solutions is that both the carrying function (rigidity) and the storage function (contact with food, moisture and grease resistance, sealability) must be integrated into the entire meal tray. This requires a higher overall raw material consumption compared to the solution described at the beginning, which uses carrying trays and separate food containers. Higher-quality materials must also be used, as the entire surface of the meal tray must possess the required properties of the food containers.One disadvantage of this solution is that it offers no flexibility in the preparation of the food, as the position and size of the formed cavities are determined once during the design of the shape of the menu tray.
[0007] A single-use container system for storing and transporting foodstuffs according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in FR 2 687 988 A1. Task
[0008] The object of the present invention is to propose a single-use container system for storing and transporting food, in particular complete meals, with limited material thickness, which is easy to dispose of and also allows for flexible shape and food combinations. In particular, the container set should be heat- and freezer-resistant and especially suitable for storing, packaging, freezing, reheating and / or baking food in microwave and conventional ovens. Description
[0009] The present innovation relates to a single-use container system for storing and transporting food, in particular a meal tray with two or more separate containers of the same or different volumes, preferably made of a compostable material. Each container comprises a base, side walls connected to the base, and an opening opposite the base through which the contents are accessible.
[0010] According to the invention, the container system is characterized in that the containers are firmly connected at their upper rims to a common cover sheet, forming a multi-layered structure in this area. This creates a stable bond between the containers and the cover sheet. Compared to known serving solutions, the container system according to the invention differs in that the containers are arranged at the bottom of the support structure and firmly connected to the support structure formed by the cover sheet, resulting in a folded plate structure known for its mechanical strength in construction. Due to the folded plate structure, the overall stiffness of the entire container system is increased. The containers are preferably food containers and serve to hold food, which may also be pre-packaged.
[0011] After removing the container lids, a skeleton of the cover sheet preferably remains, which stays connected to the container edges. The container lids are preferably sections of the cover sheet. After the container lids are separated from the cover sheet, the areas connected to the container edges remain attached to the cover sheet and form an inner edge of the opening created in the cover sheet by separating the container lids. A cover sheet with such openings is described as a cover sheet skeleton. The skeleton forms the supporting structure that exists after the container lids are detached from the cover sheet. The cover sheet skeleton ensures that the containers remain connected to the cover sheet. The cover sheet can be divided into container lids and a skeleton, whereby the container lids can be detached from the cover sheet, leaving the skeleton behind.The separation between the container lids and the skeleton can be created by weakness lines, whereby the weakness lines facilitate the detachment of the container lids from the cover sheet or from the skeleton of the cover sheet.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the container system is a meal tray. The meal tray serves exclusively for receiving, storing, and transporting meals, in particular entire menus. Furthermore, the container system can also be used for serving meals.
[0013] Preferably, each container has a flattened, circumferential rim of a specific width. This flattened, circumferential rim creates a contact surface with the cover sheet. The flattened portion of the rim gives it a specific width. The wider the flattened area of the rim, the larger the contact surface between the container and the cover sheet. This contact surface ensures a stronger bond between the cover sheet and the container and enhances the effect of the folded plate structure. The strength of the bond increases with increasing contact surface area. In a preferred embodiment, the rim of the containers has a width between 1 and 8 mm, preferably between 2 and 6 mm, and particularly preferably between 2.5 and 5 mm. Even though the bond strength increases with increasing contact surface area, the width of the rim is preferably limited.The width of the rim, and therefore the contact area, occupies space on the cover sheet that cannot be used for another container. Thus, a larger contact area also increases the area on the cover sheet occupied by a container. To allow for maximum flexibility in designing the container layout on the cover sheet, the width of the container rim is preferably limited.
[0014] Preferably, the edge of a container is no more than 25 mm from an edge of the cover sheet. This distance is measured perpendicular to the edge of the cover sheet. A small distance between the edge of the cover sheet and the container rim results in the smallest possible cover sheet surface area and, at the same time, material savings. A further advantage is that the small distance leads to increased stability of the cover sheet edges. This allows a user to easily grip and lift the cover sheet by its edges. The distance between the edge of the cover sheet and the rim of a container ensures a sufficiently constant temperature at the edge of the cover sheet that a person can grip the edge of the cover sheet at any time when transporting hot or cold food in a container.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the containers and the cover sheet are heat-sealable. This allows the strong bond between the containers and the cover sheet to be created in existing heat-sealing machines, which are normally used for sealing food trays, by applying heat and pressure. Advantageously, the cover sheet serves as a lid for the containers. The lid's function is to create a barrier between the interior of the container and the exterior or environment. This function can be achieved by the cover sheet, which would then serve as the container's lid. This eliminates the need for separate lids for the containers, resulting in an overall reduction in material usage. Preferably, the cover sheet is rigid, transparent or opaque, printed or unprinted, and can be made of various materials compatible with the container material.If the wrapper leaf is stiff, it has increased flexural rigidity, meaning that the wrapper leaf undergoes almost no bending even with filled containers.
[0016] A transparent lid provides visual access to the interior of the container. Food items inside can be visually inspected without opening the container. An opaque lid can protect food items that are susceptible to deterioration upon exposure to light and therefore require protection from light. The container material should ideally be compatible with the lid material. Two materials are compatible if they can form a metallurgical bond. Joining two compatible materials requires less effort and results in a stronger bond.
[0017] The containers will generally contain different contents. Therefore, it may be desirable to open the containers sequentially rather than simultaneously. While one container is open, the others remain closed. Preferably, removable lids are provided in the cover sheet, shaped to match the contours of the respective container openings. Opening a lid reveals only the contents of that container. The lid of each container is flush with the opening of that container. This means that the surface of the lid is identical or congruent with the opening surface of the container. Detaching a lid from the cover sheet results in the container being open, but remaining connected to the cover sheet at its rim.Thus, the cover sheet continues to fulfill its role as a support element for the containers attached to it even after a container lid is opened. After use, the container system, including the remaining cover sheet and the containers attached to it, forms a single, cohesive unit. The permanent connection of the containers via the cover sheet simplifies the cleanup of the container system after use, as the containers are always arranged in the same order and can therefore be stacked inside one another.
[0018] Advantageously, tear-off tabs are provided on the container lids. These facilitate the separation of the container lids from the cover sheet. The separation of the container lids preferably occurs with a peeling motion. For this to happen, an initial break must be made in the bond between the container lid and the cover sheet. From this break, the separation process can be carried out more easily, so that ultimately the container lid is completely separated from the cover sheet. The initial break can be created using a tear-off tab. Due to its ease of use, the tear-off tab provides an ideal device for initiating the separation process of the container lid.
[0019] Preferably, the tear tabs are provided on the side edge of the cover sheet. This placement facilitates access to the tear tabs, thus ensuring easier handling of the container set. The container lids are advantageously formed by perforations, partial perforations, cuts, or half-cuts. These perforations, partial perforations, cuts, or half-cuts define both the circumference and the contour of the container lid. They facilitate the separation of the container lid from the cover sheet with less effort and ensure that the separation occurs along the contour. Thus, they create weak lines in the cover sheet that form the container lid.
[0020] Perforation and partial perforation are created by small holes along the contour of the container lid. Through holes are referred to as perforation, while holes that do not go all the way through constitute partial perforation. The cuts run along the contour of the lid, but do not necessarily have to be straight; they can also be angled. Half-cuts are formed by two parallel, non-through cuts along the contour, one on the top and one on the bottom of the lid. The two parallel half-cuts are connected at their ends by a slit parallel to the plane of the lid.
[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the cover sheet has openings that are essentially congruent with the openings of the containers or cover a portion of these openings. The cover sheet can be designed to have openings for containers whose contents do not require a lid. For such containers, a lid would simply represent an additional material and processing expense. The openings of the cover sheet can be closed with a peel-off film. This allows certain containers to be sealed with a separate film. Thus, the film can have different properties than the cover sheet, which may be important for the storage of the container contents.
[0022] Preferably, the bond between the film and the lid is created by heat sealing. This involves applying a specific temperature and pressure to create a bond between the film and the lid. Heat sealing is a commonly used method in the food industry for applying a film or creating a tight seal. Therefore, commercially available machinery can be used, employing a method widely used in the food industry to create the bond between the film and the lid.
[0023] In a further preferred embodiment, the containers are conical or cylindrical. In a cylindrical or conical shape, the axis of rotation is arranged perpendicular to the top sheet. A conical or cylindrical shape has the advantage that it possesses a large volume with a comparatively small wall area.
[0024] Preferably, the containers are all the same height, and the openings are the same size as or larger than the base. The uniform height of the containers ensures that the lid is horizontally aligned when the container set rests on a surface. The equal or larger openings relative to the base result in a container geometry that allows easy and direct access to all areas of the container from above. This geometry also allows the containers to be stacked, saving space during both manufacturing and disposal.
[0025] In a further preferred embodiment, the containers and the cover sheet are made of biodegradable and compostable materials. This allows the single-use container system according to the invention to be disposed of by composting it together with leftover food. This eliminates the need for separation or sorting between the container and the leftover food. Due to the use of naturally biodegradable materials, no waste is produced, and the manufacture and use of the container set according to the invention thus has a reduced environmental impact. The compostability of the materials used can be verified with a corresponding certificate.
[0026] Preferably, the base and side walls of the containers are made of a laminate, each with a carrier layer of cardboard produced from mechanically shredded pulp, single- or multi-ply paper, cellulose, or secondary fibers from renewable and / or preferably biodegradable raw materials, and at least one barrier layer made of a grease-, water-, and heat-resistant material on the side facing the food to be stored. The use of cardboard or paper is a cost-effective option. A barrier layer is provided to ensure that the containers meet the requirements for hygiene and durability. The cardboard or paper forms a laminate with the barrier layer, which, due to the barrier layer, fulfills the requirements for the interior of the container.
[0027] Preferably, the cover sheet is made of cardboard produced from mechanically shredded pulp, single- or multi-ply paper, cellulose, or secondary fibers from renewable and / or preferably biodegradable raw materials. Advantageously, the cover sheet comprises at least one barrier layer made of a grease-, water-, and heat-resistant material on the underside of the cover sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the barrier layer can be heat-sealable, so that the connection between the cover sheet and a container is created by means of the barrier layer.
[0028] The container is preferably made of cardboard or paper and has one or more barrier layers. Manufacturing the container from cardboard or paper is a cost-effective option with a low environmental impact. One or more barrier layers can add specific properties to the container that are not inherent in cardboard or paper. These can include, for example, resistance to grease, water, or heat. When using multiple barrier layers, each layer can have a specific property. Among other things, the barrier layer can also be designed to create the bond between the cover sheet and the container. For this purpose, the barrier layer can contain an adhesive or allow for heat sealing.
[0029] The container and / or lid are advantageously coated internally with a water-based emulsion that provides grease and moisture resistance and heat-sealing properties. Coating the inside of the container and / or lid with a water-based emulsion is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for achieving grease and moisture resistance. Preferably, the barrier layer comprises a cellulose hydrate film. The cellulose hydrate film has ideal properties for use in contact with food. It exhibits high resistance to water, grease, and heat and is highly compatible with food, so that food products in contact with the cellulose hydrate film do not experience any adverse effects.
[0030] The lid and the containers are preferably heat- and cold-resistant. The container set is intended for use under varying temperature conditions. The lid and containers should always perform their function, which requires their resistance to heat and cold. It is also conceivable that some containers and the corresponding area of the lid are exposed to heat, while the remaining containers and the remaining area of the lid are exposed to a cold environment. The container is preferably usable at temperatures between -80 °C and 215 °C, preferably up to 175 °C, and particularly preferably up to 145 °C. The container comprises a heat- and cold-resistant material such that it can be used at temperatures from -80 °C to 215 °C. This temperature range covers the range relevant for foodstuffs. Thus, any foodstuff can be placed and stored in the containers.At the same time, this feature underlines the ability of the container set according to the invention to be able to hold both cold and hot food in the containers at the same time.
[0031] The bond between the lid and the containers can be created using an adhesive. The adhesive is preferably food-safe and resistant to both low and high temperatures. Achieving a strong bond using an adhesive can be a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process. However, the adhesive may unintentionally come into contact with food during use of the container set. Therefore, to ensure safe use of the container set, it is crucial that the adhesive is food-safe and poses no risk to the food. Additionally, the bond between the lid and the container must withstand both low and high temperatures. For this reason, the adhesive is preferably also heat- and cold-resistant.
[0032] In a further preferred embodiment, the containers are printed. This can serve, among other things, to identify the containers. Information about the contents of the container can be indicated on the outside of the container. This can be useful for the user when storing or using the containers.
[0033] The cover sheet preferably has a thickness of at least 0.3 mm, more preferably at least 0.4 mm, and even more preferably at least 0.5 mm. The cover sheet forms the supporting structure in the container system according to the invention. Therefore, a certain thickness of the cover sheet is preferable, as this simultaneously increases the strength of the cover sheet. Thus, increasing the thickness of the cover sheet can increase its stiffness.
[0034] Advantageously, the cover sheet exhibits a Taber bending moment for 15° of at least 7 mNm, preferably at least 35 mNm, in the machine direction and at least 2.5 mNm, preferably at least 14 mNm, in the transverse direction. The Taber bending moment for 15° is a well-known guideline value for determining the bending stiffness of paper and cardboard. It measures the bending moment required to deflect a test strip by 15°. The angle between the bending line and the original orientation of the test strip increases with increasing bending moment applied to the test strip. The Taber bending moment is reached at a deflection of 15°. This can be determined experimentally and is known in the literature for various products from the paper and cardboard industry. The two different values in the machine direction and in the transverse direction are given because paper and cardboard are known to exhibit anisotropic behavior.
[0035] The cover sheet and the container rim together preferably have a thickness of at least 0.6 mm. This thickness of the cover sheet and the container rim allows for rigidity along the container rim, so that, in addition to the plate structure of the container and the cover sheet, the thickness also counteracts any bending of the cover sheet and the container. Thus, a rigid and stable structure is achieved.
[0036] Advantageously, the container has a constant wall thickness. A constant wall thickness simplifies container production and can greatly simplify the estimation of material costs. Among other things, a constant wall thickness can be achieved by using only one material for the containers, meaning they are made from a single material.
[0037] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to schematic diagrams. These are shown in a representation not to scale: Figure 1: a tray with containers placed on it; Figure 2: a tray with integrated containers according to the prior art; Figure 3: a container system consisting of a cover sheet and containers; Figure 4: a container system with a cover sheet and different containers; Figure 5: a container system with separate openings for the containers; Figure 6: a trolley with a container system placed inside it; Figure 7: two container systems with openings in the cover sheet from which an object protrudes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0038] In the following, identical reference numbers represent identical or functionally equivalent elements (in different figures). An additional apostrophe can be used to distinguish between similar, functionally equivalent, or functionally comparable elements in a further variation.
[0039] Figure 1 Figure 11 shows a tray 11 with separate containers 13 placed on it. The tray 11 facilitates the transport of the containers 13, as they do not need to be moved individually. Instead, once placed on the tray 11, the containers 13 are transported together with the tray 11. The containers 13 can be placed anywhere on the tray 11 and can change their position by sliding on the tray 11. To prevent the containers 13 from sliding off the tray 11, an upward-projecting rim is arranged along the edges 15 of the tray 11.
[0040] The tray 11 is designed to be grasped and carried by a person at its edges 15. Preferably, the tray 11 is held or fixed at two opposite edges 15. The tray 11 bears the weight of the containers 13 placed on it. The rigidity of the tray 11 must be chosen to be sufficiently high that it does not experience any noticeable bending when transporting a loaded tray 11.
[0041] In Figure 2A tray 11 is shown, which has integrated containers 13. The containers 13 are manufactured simultaneously with the tray 11. The containers 13 comprise the same material as the tray 11. Sections of the containers 13 have a dual function and simultaneously form a section of both a container 13 and the tray 11. For example, the bottom 17 of a container 13 can also simultaneously form a section of the tray 11. Such a tray 11 can, for example, be manufactured by an injection molding process. An alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, is in which the opening 19 of the container is formed by an opening in the tray 11 and the container 13 is connected to the tray 11 via the rim 20 of the opening 19. Such an embodiment can be manufactured by compression molding and has a constant wall thickness across the tray 11 and the containers 13.The containers 13 are produced by compression molding from the tray 11 and therefore comprise the same material as the tray 11.
[0042] In Figure 3A container system according to the invention is shown, in which the containers are connected to one another by means of a cover sheet 21. The containers 13 have a bottom 17, side walls 23 connected to the bottom, and an opening 19 arranged opposite the bottom 17. The cover sheet 21 is formed in the shape of a plate, such that it extends in the two directions perpendicular to its thickness. The thickness of the cover sheet is defined by the distance between the underside 25 and the top side 27 of the cover sheet 21. The containers 13 are arranged on the underside 25 of the cover sheet 21. The connection with the cover sheet 21 is formed via the rim 20 of the opening 19 of a container 13. The rim 20 of the containers 13 is shaped such that it is oriented in the same direction as the bottom 17 of the container 13. Thus, the rim 20 is arranged parallel to the bottom 17 of the container 13 and forms a surface on which the cover sheet can rest.The contact surface 29 between the cover sheet 21 and a container 13 is formed by the edge 20 of the container 13. The containers 13 can be arranged at any location, in any size, and in any configuration on the underside 25 of the cover sheet 21. One possible arrangement of the containers 13 on the cover sheet 21 is shown in . Figure 3 The figure shows that the containers 13 have different sizes and shapes, but are connected to the cover sheet 21 via their rim 20. The rim 20, which forms the contact surface 29 with the cover sheet 21, is shown as a hatched area. Connecting the cover sheet 21 to a container 13 via its upper rim 20 creates a multi-layered structure at the contact surface 29. This multi-layered structure gives the connection high strength, enabling it to withstand any force with a very high degree of resistance. Breaking this connection requires the application of a precisely directed force.
[0043] The cover sheet 21 has areas 31 that lie above a container 13. These areas 31 are designed to be detached from the cover sheet. They can be formed by perforations, partial perforations, cuts, or half-cuts. The contours 32 of these areas, which form a container lid 31, lie flush with the inner edge of the upper rim 20 of the container. After detaching and removing a container lid 31, the container 13 remains firmly connected to the cover sheet 21 via its rim 20. The perforation and partial perforation are created by small holes along the contour 32 of the container lid 31. Through holes are referred to as perforations, while holes that do not go all the way through are referred to as partial perforations. The cuts run along the contour of the container lid 31, but do not have to be straight; they can also have an angled course along the contour 32.The contour 32 of the container lids 31 are formed by weak lines due to the design described above, which give way quickly when a certain force is applied.
[0044] Figure 4 shows two different states of the same design. In Figure 4a The cover page 21 is complete, while in Figure 4b The container lids 31 are removed from the cover sheet 21. The container lid 31 can be, as shown in Figure 4a As shown, a tear-off tab 33 is located at a corner or edge. This tear-off tab 33 extends beyond the shadow cast by the upper edge 20 of the container. At that point, at least after removal of the container lid 31, the upper edge 20 of the container is not connected to the cover sheet 21. The area of the upper edge 20 of the container over which the tear-off tab 33 is located is exposed after removal of the tear-off tab 33, as shown in Figure 4bThis is evident because the tear tab 33 is part of the cover sheet 21. The tear tab 33 can be located at the edge or at the corner of the cover sheet 21. This makes it easier for a person to grip the tear tab 33. The tear tab 33 can be detached from the cover sheet 21 by applying a relatively small force. Once detached from the cover sheet 21, the tear tab 33 allows the container lid 31 to be pulled off the container rim by overcoming only the peeling force. The peeling force required to detach the container lid 31 is much smaller than the pulling force required.
[0045] In Figure 4The structure of the cover sheet 21, consisting of container lids 31 and a skeleton 34, is evident. The skeleton forms the area of the cover sheet 21 that remains after the container lids 31 are separated from the cover sheet 21. The shape of the skeleton 34 is determined by the arrangement of the containers 13 and the container lids 31. In all embodiments, the skeleton 34 forms a single, continuous structure. The containers 13 are attached to the cover sheet 21 and thus to the skeleton 34 of the cover sheet via their rims, so that even after the container lids are removed, the containers continue to form a single unit with the skeleton 34 of the cover sheet. Figure 4b .
[0046] Figure 5Figure 1 shows a top view and a perspective view of an embodiment in which the cover sheet 21 has additional tabs 35. These tabs 35 are arranged in container lids 31, i.e., at the points that lie above a container 13. These tabs 35 can be deflected and then form a ventilation opening 37 in the container lid 31. This allows for air exchange between the interior of a container 13 and the exterior. This is of great importance, for example, when a container 13 is heated, since the density of the heated air in the container decreases and the heated air requires more space due to expansion. By allowing the heated air to escape through the ventilation openings 37 in the container lid 31, the pressure in the container 13 can be maintained at a desired level.Since this function does not always need to be used, the ventilation openings 37 can be opened and closed using the tabs 35 mentioned above. Preferably, this process of opening and closing these ventilation openings 37 can be repeated as often as desired. It is conceivable that these ventilation openings 37 could also be used for other purposes.
[0047] In Figure 6A trolley 39 is shown, which serves to hold trays or container sets according to the invention. In the container system according to the invention, the cover sheet 21 forms the supporting structure. As already described above, the containers 13 are attached to the underside of the cover sheet 21. In the trolley 39, the cover sheet 21 is placed on two lateral supports, on which the weight of the entire container system rests. The cover sheet 21 must have sufficiently high rigidity to absorb the weight of the containers 13 and maintain its horizontal orientation when supported on two opposite sides. The trolley 39 can also be provided with two areas with different temperatures. The cover sheet 21 is located in both areas, with one or more containers being housed in the cooler area and the remaining containers in the warmer area of the trolley.The cover sheet 21 must absorb the thermal stresses arising from the temperature difference. Preferably, the material of the cover sheet 21 has low thermal conductivity, so that practically no heat flow occurs through the cover sheet 21. The trolley has an intermediate wall 40, which separates the warm area from the cold area. The intermediate wall 40 has slots located approximately at the height of the side supports. To place a tray in the trolley, the tray must be inserted into the slot in the intermediate wall 40. At the same time, the tray rests on the side supports.
[0048] The embodiments in Figure 7Each figure shows a cover sheet 21 which, in its initial state, already has openings 41 above certain containers. These openings 41 are located above those containers 13 that serve to hold food or objects that do not require protection by a lid. This design also allows objects and food to be placed in containers 13 of the container system, which, when positioned within the container 13, project upwards above the cover sheet 21. These openings 41 can cover the entire container opening 19 or only form a portion of the container lid 31 that is positioned above the container 13. The container lids 31 are marked by a contour 32 around their circumference, which also forms the dividing line between the container lid 31 and the remaining cover sheet 21, the remaining cover sheet being formed by the skeleton 34 of the cover sheet together with the other container lids 31. Example implementation:
[0049] The secure connection between the cover sheet and the containers can be achieved by sealing or gluing the edges of several containers to a single top plate, a support that holds all components together and also serves as a lid for the containers. Once connected as described, the cover sheet and the containers combine their structural mechanical properties to give the innovative meal tray rigidity, while limiting the thickness of both components. The ability to combine different shapes and sizes of containers with the corresponding cover sheet makes the meal tray flexible in its configuration. Each container, once securely attached to the cover sheet, forms an independent unit. Each cavity can be used for food or other meal components such as cutlery, napkins, etc.The limited thickness of the individual components makes the structure lightweight, uses fewer raw materials, is cheaper, and easier to dispose of. If the materials chosen for the containers and the cover are biodegradable and compostable, the structure (innovative food tray) can be certified as compostable through the combination of both materials. REFERENCE MARK LIST:
[0050] 11 Tray 13 Container 15 Tray edges 17 Container bottom 19 Container opening 20 Container rim 21 Cover sheet 23 Container side wall 25 Underside of cover sheet 27 Top side of cover sheet 29 Contact surface between container and cover sheet 31 Container lid 32 Container lid contour 33 Tear tab 34 Cover sheet skeleton 35 Ventilation flap 37 Ventilation opening 39 Trolley 40 Partition 41 Openings in the cover sheet
Claims
1. A single-use container system for storing and transporting food, in particular meal tray, having two or more separate containers (13) of the same or different volumes, preferably produced from a renewable and compostable material, wherein each container (13) respectively comprises - a base (17), - side walls (23) connected to the base (17), and - an opening (19) opposite the base (17), wherein a common covering sheet (21) is provided that is securely connected to the upper edge (20) of the containers such that a multi-layer structure is formed in this region, characterized in that the covering sheet (21) comprises removable container lids (31) that have the contour (32) of the respective container openings (19), and in that a skeleton (34) of the covering sheet remains that stays connected to the container edges after the container lids (31) are removed.
2. The container system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the containers (13) each have a flattened, circumferential edge (20) of a certain width.
3. The container system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that pull-off tabs (33) are provided on the container lids (31), wherein the pull-off tabs (33) are provided preferably on the lateral edge of the covering sheet (21).
4. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container lids (31) are formed by perforations, partial perforations, incisions or half-incisions.
5. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the covering sheet comprises openings (41) that are substantially congruent with the openings (19) of the containers, wherein the openings (41) of the covering sheet preferably can be sealed with a pull-off film.
6. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the containers (13) are adapted to be conical or cylindrical, preferably have the same height and in that the openings (19) preferably are equal to or greater than the base surface.
7. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base (17) and the side walls (23) of the containers are produced from a laminate with a respective carrier layer made of cardboard produced from mechanically comminuted pulp, a single or multi-layer paper, cellulose or secondary fibers made of renewable and / or preferably biodegradable raw materials, and at least one barrier layer made of a grease-, water- and heat-resistant material on the side facing the foodstuffs to be stored.
8. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the container (13) and / or the covering sheet (21) is coated on the inside with a water-based emulsion that provides grease and moisture resistance and hot sealing properties.
9. The container system according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the barrier layer comprises a cellulose hydrate film.
10. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the container (13) can be used at temperatures between -80°C and 215°C, preferably up to 175°C, and particularly preferably up to 145°C.
11. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to10, characterized in that one of the containers (13) comprises one or more intermediate walls, and the side walls (23) and the base (17) of the containers are preferably thinner than the covering sheet (21).
12. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to11, characterized in that the base (17) of the container comprises depressions and / or projections to strengthen the structure.
13. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the covering sheet (21) and the container edge (20) together have a thickness of at least 0.6 mm.
14. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the container (13) has a constant wall thickness.
15. The container system according to any of Claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the container systems can be stacked on top of one another after at least two container systems are used.