System for vacuum sealing and preserving food

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for vacuum-sealing and preserving food products from the retail counter, which are then stored in a refrigerator. The system comprises at least one dimensionally stable base plate (2) and a lid (9), a frame (3, 11) connected or connectable to the base plate (2) and / or the lid (9), and a flexible, airtight film (4) connected or connectable to the frame. An airtight, sealed space is formed between the underside of the film (4), the inside of the frame (3), and the top of the base plate (2) by means of the aforementioned components. At least one channel (5) is arranged in the frame through which air can be drawn out of the sealed space, causing the flexible film (4) to conform to the shape of the food. This improves food preservation and, through its sustainable design, reduces waste.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for packaging and storing food, intended for use during shopping to avoid packaging waste. Furthermore, the food stored in the refrigerator stays fresh longer and can also be placed on the table in the containers.

[0002] When shopping at the deli counter, fresh foods such as cheese, fish, meat, or sausage are always wrapped in plastic-coated paper or film. For larger quantities, additional film is placed between the layers to prevent the individual slices from sticking together. All of these small packages are then placed in an outer box, keeping them strictly separated according to type: fish, meat, sausage, and cheese.

[0003] According to current technology, it's possible to bring resealable containers when shopping, place them on the counter, have the staff fill them, and then take the fresh produce home. However, a disadvantage is that the food then comes into contact with air, which can cause chemical reactions on the surface. This makes the food less visually appealing and causes it to spoil much faster. Furthermore, this method only saves on the outer packaging.

[0004] The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. This object of the invention is achieved with a food preservation system according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0005] Accordingly, the subject of the invention is a system for vacuum sealing and preserving foodstuffs from the shop counter, which are then intended for further storage in the refrigerator.

[0006] The system according to the invention comprises at least one dimensionally stable base plate, a frame connected or connectable to the base plate and a flexible airtight film connected or connectable to the frame, wherein an airtight sealed space is formed between the underside of the film, the inside of the frame and the top of the base plate in the assembled state.

[0007] The frame incorporates at least one channel through which air can be drawn out of the enclosed space during use, allowing the flexible film to conform to the food's shape. This ensures that the food does not come into contact with air, thus improving its preservation.

[0008] Preferably, the film has a circumferential sealing element at its edges, which, when the frame and film are joined, is preferably received in at least one recess of the frame. According to one embodiment, the frame has a circumferential groove on its underside and / or its top side for receiving the sealing element(s). Particularly preferably, the sealing element is applied to the film as a circumferential bead. It is particularly preferably made of a flexible material and is compressible.

[0009] A groove for receiving the sealing element can also be provided on the top of the base plate or on the underside of a cover described below.

[0010] In one embodiment, the system has a valve, preferably a nozzle valve. The valve is connected to the channel through which air can be extracted from the sealed space during operation. The system can also include a pump for extracting air from the airtight space. The valve (e.g., nozzle valve) then ensures that no air can flow back into the previously vacuumed space. In a preferred embodiment, the system has a manually operated check valve to allow backflow into the previously vacuumed area.

[0011] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the system comprises at least two valves, one of which is formed by a beak valve and the other is a manually operated check valve.

[0012] If the system has at least two channels, air can preferably be extracted via one channel, thereby creating a vacuum, and is connected to a poppet valve located in the lid to prevent backflow. The second channel is preferably connected to a manually operated pressure / check valve located in the lid, which, when actuated, allows air to flow back into the vacuumed spaces. This is preferred because otherwise, opening the vacuumed space(s) by lifting the frame would be difficult or impossible. According to a preferred embodiment, the pump is manually operated. Furthermore, this pump is preferably connected to the frame or a lid of the system to ensure it is always ready for use.

[0013] The system preferably comprises two or more frames that can be stacked on top of each other and are preferably connected to each other using a clip connection to ensure that the individual frames cannot detach during transport. The clips are preferably permanently attached to the individual components (except for the base plate). The clip connections are particularly preferably designed and arranged so that they simultaneously serve as feet for the respective components when they are placed on a table or counter. These feet also prevent contamination of the underside of each component, thus preventing it from contaminating the food when the frames are reassembled and vacuum-sealed. In another embodiment, the individual frames are held together by the generated vacuum.

[0014] In any case, a system comprising multiple frames has several airtight compartments. In a design where the frames are held together by one or more clip connections, it may be provided that opening at least one clip connection allows air to flow back into the airtight compartments. This facilitates the separation of the individual frames and thus provides access to the vacuum-sealed food products. In another design, this is achieved by manually operating a check valve.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the frames have an intermediate shelf, which is preferably permanently attached to the frame. However, it can also be detachably attached to the frame. In one embodiment, the intermediate shelf is dimensionally stable and, for example, made of a transparent material. Preferably, however, the intermediate shelf is also made of a stretchable material, such as a stretchable, airtight film. This allows the film to contract optimally. In contrast, the base plate is preferably dimensionally stable. However, according to one embodiment, it can also be made of a stretchable material.

[0016] The system also has a lid which has at least one flexible, airtight film or can be connected to one via a seal, so that in the assembled state an airtight space is formed between the base plate or intermediate floor, the inside of the frame, and the flexible film. Preferably, a valve is arranged in the lid, which is connected to the channel for extracting air from the at least one airtight space. Preferably, two valves are arranged in the lid.

[0017] To connect the individual components of the system, one or both of the opposing connection surfaces of the components to be joined (top of the base plate, bottom of a frame, top of a frame, bottom of the cover) can have a groove. The sealing element can be arranged in this groove when the system is assembled. If both of the components to be joined have a groove, one embodiment of the system according to the invention can also provide two sealing elements between the two components.

[0018] In a system which has at least two frames or at least one frame with an intermediate floor and a lid, according to a preferred embodiment at least one air equalization opening is arranged on the inside of the frames and / or the lid and is connected to the outside via an air equalization channel.

[0019] The air equalization opening is located on the inside of the frame in the assembled system, between the underside of an intermediate shelf and the top of a flexible film, or in other words, between the airtight compartments. This allows air to flow through the air equalization channel into the space between the airtight compartments when negative pressure is created. This ensures that the flexible film fits optimally over the food stored in the airtight compartment.

[0020] Preferably, the air extraction channel in a frame of the system has an opening on the inside of the frame in the area between the top of the intermediate floor and the underside of the flexible, airtight film located above it when assembled. Particularly preferably, the channel has a second opening on the top of the frame and, even more preferably, an additional opening on the underside of the frame. The openings on the top and bottom of the frames are preferably arranged and designed such that the channels of several frames align with one another when assembled and form a common air extraction channel from the airtight sealed space(s). Corresponding channels can also be arranged in the lid and / or base plate, which interact with the channels of the frames as described above.

[0021] Preferably, channels are arranged on at least two opposite sides of the frame(s). This allows the individual frames to be stacked without having to ensure that the channels of the individual frames are aligned, because the channels will align even if a frame is rotated 180° (around a vertical axis) and placed on top of a frame below it. The same applies to the base plate and the lid.

[0022] The system preferably comprises at least one base plate, a lid with a sealing ring and a stretchable film, wherein, according to this variant, the frame is formed integrally with the base plate. This embodiment can also function as a basic system and be supplemented by further intermediate frames, each with a sealing ring (sealing element) and a stretchable film.

[0023] To further increase the sustainability of the product, it is planned that the frame(s), the base plate and, if applicable, the lid will be made from a material whose main component is a renewable raw material.

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0025] This shows: Fig. 1 an exploded view of the system according to the invention in a cross-sectional view, Fig. 2 the system according to the invention in its assembled state in a cross-sectional view, Fig. 3 the system according to the invention in a composite state in a cross-sectional view in the vacuum state, Fig. 4. A perspective view from below of a frame with a flexible, airtight film, including a sealing ring (sealing element) Fig. 5. A perspective view of a frame with flexible, airtight film, including sealing ring (sealing element) Fig. 6. A perspective view of the system with multiple frames in a composite state.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention with three frames 3, the individual components of the system not yet assembled. In addition to the three frames 3, the system 1 also has a base plate 2 and a cover 9. Furthermore, the system 1 has four flexible, airtight films 4. The seals / sealing elements 6 are visible at the lateral edges of the films 4. Recesses 7 are provided on the underside of each frame 3. Each frame 3 also has an intermediate shelf 10. The channel 5 for extracting air from the airtight compartments is also important for the system's function. These channels 5 have an opening on the inside of each frame 3, an opening on the top of each frame 3, and an opening on the underside of each frame 3. A valve 8, not visible in this illustration, is arranged on the cover 9.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows the system from Fig. 1 in assembled state. Foodstuffs 12, such as cheese and sausage, are placed on the base plate 2 and the 3 intermediate shelves 10 of the frames 3. A sealing element 6 is arranged in a recess / groove 7 between the top of the side walls / frames 11 of the base plate 2 and the underside of the lowest frame 3 (with intermediate shelf).

[0028] In the frame 3 and in the side walls / frame 11 of the base plate 2, an opening of the duct 5 for air extraction is arranged on the inside (right and left). These openings are located between the underside of a flexible, airtight film 4 and the top of the intermediate shelves 10 or the base plate 2. The duct 5 has a further opening on the top of the side walls 11, which aligns with a lower opening of the duct 5 of a frame 3. The opening of the duct 5 on the top of a frame 3, in turn, aligns with the opening of the duct 5 on the underside of the frame 3 above it, thus forming a continuous duct 5. Two ducts 5 are also arranged in the cover 9, in which two valves 8a, in this case a pop-top valve, and 8b, in this case a manually operated check valve, are arranged.

[0029] Fig. 3 shows the system from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in a assembled and vacuum-sealed state. By connecting a pump (not shown) via the nozzle valve 8a, air was extracted from the airtight compartments. These compartments are bounded by the underside of a flexible, airtight film 4, the top of the intermediate shelf 10 of a respective frame or base plate 2, and the inside of the respective frame 3 or the inner side wall / frame 11 of the base plate 2. By applying a vacuum, the airtight compartment shrinks, causing the flexible, airtight film 4 to stretch and fit over the food 12.

[0030] Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view from below of a frame 3 with an intermediate shelf 10, a groove 7 running around the frame 3, and an airtight film 4 with a circumferential sealing element 6. The opening of the air extraction channel 5 is visible on the underside of the frame 3. Also important in this illustration is the opening of the air equalization channel 13, which is located on the outside of the frame 3 and is connected via the air equalization channel 13 to an opening located on the inside of the frame 3. When air is extracted via the channel 5 during vacuuming, the flexible airtight film is opened as shown in Figure 4. Fig. Figure 3 shows the film stretched downwards, thus reducing the airtight space (not visible here). This would create a negative pressure between the top of the flexible film 4 and the underside of the intermediate shelf 10 above it. To prevent this, the air equalization channel 13 is provided. During vacuuming, air flows through the air equalization channel 13 into the area between the top of the film 4 and the underside of the intermediate shelf 10.

[0031] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the in Fig. The four components shown are shown. In this view, the opening of channel 5, located on the top, for extracting air from the airtight sealed spaces (not shown here) can be seen.

[0032] Fig. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the assembled system 1. The system shown has 3 frames, a base plate 2, and a lid 9. The individual components are fastened using clip connections 14. Two valves 8 (a poppet valve 8a and a check valve 8b) are visible on the top of the lid 9. Air can be extracted from the airtight sealed spaces via the poppet valve 8a, while air can flow back into the previously vacuumed spaces via the check valve 8b when activated.

[0033] Fig.Figure 7 shows a perspective view of system 1 in a further embodiment. The variant shown here differs from the embodiments described above in that two sealing elements 6 are arranged between each pair of assembled components. A groove 7 is arranged on both the top and bottom surfaces of a frame 3, in each of which a sealing element 6 is arranged. One of the sealing elements 6 is connected to the stretchable, airtight film 4, the other is not. Reference symbol list: 1 system 2 Base plate 3 frames 4 Flexible airtight film 5 Channel for extracting air from the airtight sealed rooms 6 Seal / Sealing element 7 Recess / Groove 8 Valve (8a beak valve / 8b check valve) 9 lids 10 intermediate floors 11 Side walls of the base plate / frame 12 Foods 13 Air equalization duct 14 clip connections

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