Arrangement for covering containers

Abstract

Arrangement for opening and closing a reusable container (8), with a cover device (1) that can be rolled up and down, wherein the cover device (1) is fastened to a section of the edge region of the opening of the reusable container (8) to be closed, characterized in that the cover device (1) is deformable in a bistable manner between a first stable, rolled-up state in which the opening of the container (8) is covered, and a second stable, rolled-up state in which the container (8) is at least partially open, wherein the rolling-up and unrolling mechanism of the cover device (1) can be realized by activating at least one bistable element (2) integrated into the cover device (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to an arrangement which can be rolled up and down for covering a reusable container, in particular for goods carriers or containers in the gastronomial sector, wherein the rolling up and down mechanism of the covering device can be realized by activating at least one bistable element.BACKGROUND / PRIOR ARTIn the business ofage, carriers or containers for the transport or storage of finished dishes are frequently provided with a lid in order to protect the contents from impurities or to keep them warm, fresh or cool and to store them. Usually, these so-called Gastronorm (GN) containers have a simple lid which has to be completely removed in order to remove the contents, whereby at least the uppermost layer of the contents becomes freely accessible and is thus exposed to the external temperature and ambient conditions (purity, impurities). A further problem is that the cover must be deposited if one wishes to remove the goods unimpeded, so that the work surface, which is in any case usually limited, is additionally blocked by deposited covers in the operation of the gastronomia. There is naturally also the additional risk that the cover will be contaminated, as a result of which the remaining goods or food can then likewise be contaminated or contaminated after removal during the re-closing. While hinged lids are offered on the market, their use is made more difficult by the fact that they usually hinge open in their full length, for which purpose very much space is required above the container, which is frequently not the case in the food industry. Lids which only half open, the opened half being placed on the closed half, have the disadvantage that the contents of the container are no longer completely accessible.In addition to the standardized, simple, flat lids for gastronorm containers, which are available on the market in all suitable sizes, and the half- or fully hinged lids with the above-described disadvantages, GN containers with so-called roller top lids are also used in particular for keeping food warm.The subject matter of DE 38 27 512 A1, for example, is a device for storing and dispensing food, comprising a frame for receiving a container for food and a cover, pivotably arranged on the frame, for covering the container.DE 601 17 940 T2 discloses a food keep warm with a lockable rotating lid that can be fixed in a desired open position.EP 1 239 705 A1 describes an apparatus and a method for keeping food warm, wherein a roller top cover is likewise used as cover.The three last mentioned documents describe roll-top covers which solve the problem of depositing the cover when opening a GN container when discharging food or goods. However, these arrangements still have the disadvantage that a relatively large amount of free space is required for the rotating mechanism above the GN container and the mechanism itself frequently requires rather complex constructions. Moreover, the roll-top lids usually have the shape of a hood with a very large amount of free space above the goods, making it difficult, for example, to maintain and preserve the service temperature.In addition, in all cases the mechanical opening and reclosure of the container by hand interrupts and interferes with the workflow, which has a disadvantageous effect in particular in the rectal gastronomial operation.Thus, especially for the gastronomia sector, there is still a need for a covering device for a container to be closed which does not have the disadvantages listed above and which can be opened and re-closed quickly and without problems with a small additional space requirement.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object is achieved by an arrangement for covering a container to be sealed according to claim 1.The arrangement according to the invention for opening and closing a reusable container comprises a covering device which can be rolled up and down and is fastened in the edge region of the opening of the reusable container to be closed. The covering device is deformable in a bistable manner between a first stable rolled-off state, in which the opening of the container is covered, and a second stable rolled-up state, in which the container is at least partially opened, it being possible for the rolling-on and rolling-off mechanism of the covering device to be realized by activating at least one bistable element integrated into the covering device.Bistability is the property of some systems to be able to assume two possible stable states and to change from one state to the other by an external pulse. Generally known are the so-called snap-in bracelets made of metal (also called clack bracelet or striking bracelet), which, when they strike against the arm, wrap around the arm and remain in this position until they are again stretched. Snap-arm straps are used in particular as advertising articles.A preferred embodiment of the present invention now provides that the at least one bistable element is a snap-action bracelet, wherein the covering device comprises at least one silicone mat combined with the at least one snap-action bracelet. By activating the snap bracelet, the silicone mat connected thereto rolls open, so that the opening of the reusable container is exposed. In order to close the removal region again, the cover is rolled back again by hand into the starting position. As soon as the snap bracelet integrated in the covering device has reached its original stable position in the full length, a clicking sound is to be heard, while the mat rests flat on the reusable container and covers the opening.The subject matter of a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is a covering device which is constructed in multiple layers from at least two silicone mats, between which at least one bistable element is incorporated.In order to prevent the silicone mat from bulging downward and possibly not resting flat, the covering device advantageously comprises at least one additional stabilizing element. As stabilizing elements, for example, similar to a sushi mat, cross braces can be integrated, which provide the lateral regions of the silicone mat with the necessary stability. Alternatively, elastic plastic mats can also be used as stabilizing elements.The number, width, thickness, length and positioning of the snap bracelets used can influence the forces, the winding speed, the stability and the winding radius. Moreover, the nature of the mat (elasticity, material, thickness, number of layers) can affect the reeling behaviour.Thus, an advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the covering device comprises a plurality of snap-action bracelets, which are parallel next to one another and are at a defined distance from one another, as bistable elements.Since an essential aim of the present invention is to facilitate the operation in the gastronomy establishments and to make them more efficient and faster, when using several bistable elements simultaneously, care must be taken that the simultaneous activation can take place with a single hand movement. This can be realized in that, for example, a middle stronger snap bracelet entails parallel, outer, smaller snap bracelets.In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the covering device comprises two bistable elements which are parallel next to one another and are at a defined distance from one another, wherein the two bistable elements can be activated simultaneously with the aid of a transmission element. Preferably, the transmission element is a transmission rail arranged at right angles to the bistable elements and operatively connected thereto, wherein the bistable elements can be activated by the exertion of pressure on the transmission rail.If the cover according to the invention were loosely located on the reusable container to be closed and were fastened only on one side of the edge region, the energy released when the snap bracelets were rolled on would roll the entire cover beyond the edge region, whereby in particular the re-closing of the container would be made more difficult. An advantageous embodiment of the present invention therefore provides that the rolling-on and rolling-off mechanism is combined with a stop device.The stop device can be accompanied, for example, by the use of a shortened snap bracelet, in which case the winding process automatically stops before the end of the mat. Alternatively, a mechanical fixation of the end of the snap bracelet can be effected so that the reeling-up process is stopped prematurely before the sliver fully reels up. A further possibility is to install a brake as it were by changing the material enclosing the snap-action bracelet. At the same time, the rolling-on and rolling-off process can be stabilized in all cases by means of a slip-prevention device, wherein the silicone mat is equipped, for example, on both sides at its end with an L or U profile which engages as a fastening strip into the side edge of the reusable container to be closed.In a particularly elegant and efficient solution, the stop device comprises the introduction of a flexible stop rail which can be slid over the cover at an freely selectable location such as a bow, wherein the stop rail is fastened on both sides to the edges of the container. The rolling-up process is blocked by the stop rail, so that only a partial region of the container opening becomes freely accessible. By moving the stop rail rearward or forward, the opening can be enlarged or reduced as required.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe different exemplary features described above can be combined with one another according to the invention, provided this is technically expedient. Further features, advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures, with which the proposed arrangement for opening and closing a reusable container is explained in detail on the basis of selected examples. It is understood that these examples are by no means intended to be limitations, but merely serve to explain the basic principle of the present invention.The figures used for explanation show: FIG. 1 shows the mode of operation of a snap-action bracelet, FIG. 2 shows the possible construction of a cover device which can be rolled up and rolled off, FIG. 3 shows a perspective top view of a covering device, FIG. 4 shows a further perspective top view of a covering device, FIG. 5 shows a further perspective top view of a covering device, FIG. 6 shows a further perspective top view of a covering device, FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a GN container with a covering device, and FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of two GN containers with covering devices and stop rails.FIG. 1 illustrates, with the aid of two representations offset in time, the bistable properties of the snap-action bracelet 2, which can assume two stable states, the stretched and at the same time slightly curved shape being stable until it is activated by an external impulse, such as the finger pressure on the curvature, and changes over to the rolled-up state. In the lower part of FIG. 1, the transition from the extended to the rolled-up state can be seen.FIG. 2 shows a possible construction of a covering device 1 in a type of exploded drawing, which covering device comprises two silicone mats 3, between which a stabilizing layer as stabilizing element 4 is sandwiched together with a snap bracelet 2 as bistable element. The stabilizing element 4 is provided to stabilize the silicone mats 3 of low strength to such an extent that they do not hang down laterally and a stable planar placement of the covering device 1 onto the container opening is possible.FIG. 3 shows a further possibility for stabilizing the silicone mat 3. In order to prevent the silicone mat 3 from bulging downward and possibly not resting flat, the covering device 1 comprises at least one additional stabilizing element 4. As stabilizing elements 4, cross braces can be integrated, for example, similar to a sushi mat, which confer the necessary stability on the lateral regions of the silicone mat 3.The subject matter of FIG. 4 is a covering device 1 with a silicone mat 3, into which three snap-action bracelets 2 arranged parallel to one another are integrated, whereby the rolling force can be correspondingly increased, which can be advantageous in the case of heavier covers. The activation of the retractor mechanism can be effected by finger pressure on the middle snap bracelet 2. A prerequisite is that the middle snap bracelet has sufficient energy to carry the two outer snap bracelets with it.FIG. 5 shows a further possibility of activating the rolling-up mechanism for a covering device 1 with snap-action bracelets 2 present parallel next to one another. In this case, the two snap-action bracelets 2 are connected to an activation strip 5 as a transmission element 5 and can be activated by applying pressure to the activation strip 5 and transferred from the first stable state to the second stable state by rolling up.The rolling-up of the covering device 1 equipped with a snap-action bracelet 2 is usually effected with so much energy that a stop device is preferably provided for opening the reusable container. FIG. 6 shows an example of a stop device, wherein a snap-action bracelet 2 shortened to the end of the covering device is combined with lateral, short fastening strips 6 designed as an L-profile, with which the covering device 1 can be pushed on both sides onto the edge of a container 8 to be closed and fixed there. The shortened snap-action bracelet 2 ensures that the rolling-up process stops before the end of the covering device 1 and the fastening strip 6 is intended to prevent the covering device 1 from falling down during the rolling-up process.Another stopping mechanism, which is shown in FIG. 7, is based, for example, on a mechanical fixing of the end of the snap bracelet 2, so that the winding process is stopped prematurely before the snap bracelet 2 is completely wound up. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a covering device 1 which is arranged slightly displaced over a GN container as reusable container 8. The illustration is selected such that the observer can readily understand that the fastening element 6 at the end of the covering device 1 is pushed on both sides over the edge of the GN container 8, whereby the covering device 1 is then fixed on the container 8. To open the container 8, the snap-action bracelet 2 incorporated into the silicone mat 3 is activated by finger pressure, whereby the covering device 1 then rolls up as far as the fastening element 6.In a particularly elegant and efficient solution, as shown in Figure 8, the stop device comprises the introduction of a flexible stop rail 7 which can be slid over the covering device 1 at an arbitrary location, the rail 7 being fixed on both sides to the edges of the container 8. To explain the mode of operation of the stop rail 7, two GN containers 8 occupied by covering devices 1 are shown in perspective in FIG. 8 in different opening states. The rolling-up process shown in the right-hand illustration is blocked by the stop rail 7, so that only a partial region of the container opening is freely accessible. By sliding the stop rail 7 to the rear or front, the opening can be correspondingly enlarged or reduced as required.In the preceding description, GN containers have been mentioned primarily as examples of reusable containers 8 to be sealed according to the invention. It should therefore be pointed out once again at this point that no restriction is to be seen therein. Rather, the covering device 1 according to the invention can of course also be used for any other reusable containers 8, wherein it should not pose any problem to the person skilled in the art to fasten the covering device 1 to the reusable container 8 in a suitable manner, so that the opening and closing of the container 8 according to the invention can be realized with the covering device 1 without difficulty.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS1 Covering device 2 bistable element, snap-action bracelet 3 silicone mat 4 stabilizing element 5 transmission element 6 fastening strip 7 stop rail 8 reusable containers

Claims

Arrangement for opening and closing a reusable container (8), having a covering device (1) which can be rolled up and down, wherein the covering device (1) is fastened to a portion of the edge region of the opening of the reusable container (8) to be closed, characterized in that the covering device (1) can be deformed in a bistable manner between a first stable, rolled-up state, in which the opening of the container (8) is covered, and a second stable, rolled-up state, in which the container (8) is at least partially opened, wherein the rolling-up and rolling-down mechanism of the covering device (1) can be realized by activating at least one bistable element (2) integrated into the covering device (1).Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one bistable element (2) is a snap-action bracelet (2), wherein the covering device (1) comprises at least one silicone mat (3) combined with the at least one snap-action bracelet (2).Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the covering device (1) is constructed in a multilayer manner from at least two silicone mats (3), between which at least one bistable element (2) is incorporated.Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering device (1) comprises at least one additional stabilizing element (4).Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering device (1) comprises a plurality of bistable elements (2) which are parallel next to one another and are at a defined distance from one another.Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering device (1) comprises two bistable elements (2) which are parallel next to one another and are at a defined distance from one another, wherein the two bistable elements (2) can be activated simultaneously with the aid of a transmission element (5).Arrangement according to Claim 6, characterized in that the transmission element (5) is a transmission rail (5) which is arranged at right angles to the bistable elements (2) and is operatively connected to the latter, it being possible for the bistable elements (2) to be activated by the exertion of pressure on the transmission rail (5).Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling-on and rolling-off mechanism is combined with a stop device.Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop device comprises the use of a shortened snap-action bracelet (2), a mechanical fixing of the covering device (1) to the container (8) to be closed by means of a fastening rail (6), a change in the material enclosing the snap-action bracelet (2) or the application of a brake.Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop device comprises a flexible stop rail (7).

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