Food storage box

Abstract

A food storage box (1), in particular box adapted for storing flat food (7) like pizza or tarte flambee is provided. The food storage box comprises a base plate (2) adapted to support the food to be stored thereon, and a cover (3) adapted to cover the food from above, wherein the base plate (2) comprises at least one food lifting opening (10) configured such that a food lifting element (12) can penetrate the at least one food lifting opening to lift the food to be stored, wherein a first flap arrangement (11) is assigned to the at least one food lifting opening (10) and is adapted to open and close the at least one food lifting opening (10), and / or at least one cover lifting opening (20) configured such that a cover opening element (22) can penetrate the at least one cover lifting opening (20) to open the cover (3), wherein a second flap arrangement (21) is assigned to the at least one cover lifting opening (20) and is adapted to open and close the at least one cover lifting opening (20), or at least one cover and food lifting opening configured such that a cover / food opening element can penetrate the at least one cover and food lifting opening to open the cover (3) and to lift the food to be stored, wherein a combined flap arrangement is assigned to the at least one food and cover lifting opening and is adapted to open and close the at least one food and cover lifting opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a food storage box, an arrangement comprising a food storage box, a method of lifting a cover and / or lifting food stored in a food storage box and a food processing apparatus.BACKGROUND

[0002] In the present day, food vending machines have become more and more popular, as these machines provide a possibility to conveniently obtain freshly prepared food at any time of the day and at any place. The food is already pre-prepared such that it only requires to be heated up inside the food vending machine. Furthermore, the pre-prepared food is stored cooled inside the vending machine, such that it can be kept for longer and food waste can be avoided. In addition, the pre-prepared food is stored in a storage box, such that it can be conveyed by a mechanism of the food vending machine. For processing the food and presenting it to a customer it has to be removed from the storage box, which at the same time is used by the customer for transport and holding purposes, the box has to be open or to be opened. For opening / closing the box openings are provided. These openings may allow contaminations and bacteria to get inside the food storage box while vapor and heat may escape.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a food storage box and an arrangement improving the food storage conditions as well as a method for handling such food storage box and a food processing apparatus handling such food storage boxes.

[0004] The invention is defined in the independent claims and preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

[0005] A food storage box, in particular a box adapted for storing flat food like pizza or tarte flambee is provided. The food storage box comprises a base plate adapted to support the food to be stored thereon, and a cover adapted to cover the food from above. The base plate comprises at least one food lifting opening configured such that a food lifting element can penetrate the at least one food lifting opening to lift the food to be stored, wherein a first flap arrangement is assigned to the at least one food lifting opening and is adapted to open and close the at least one food lifting opening, and / or at least one cover lifting opening configured such that a cover opening element can penetrate the at least one cover lifting opening to open the cover, wherein a second flap arrangement is assigned to the at least one cover lifting opening and is adapted to open and close the at least one cover lifting opening, or at least one cover and food lifting opening configured such that a cover / food opening element can penetrate the at least one cover and food lifting opening to open the cover and to lift the food to be stored, wherein a combined flap arrangement is assigned to the at least one food and cover lifting opening and is adapted to open and close the at least one food and cover lifting opening.

[0006] By providing a flap arrangement that is adapted to open and close the respective opening, the respective opening of the food storage box may be kept covered, when food is stored and / or transported inside the food storage box. As a result, no contamination or bacteria may enter the food storage box, when it is stored inside a food vending machine. Additionally, as the flap arrangement of the respective opening can be opened by a penetration of the cover opening element or a food lifting element, it may still be possible to interact with the inside of the food storage box. In particular, it may be possible to interact with the food inside the food storage box when the food needs to be extracted, e.g. when the food needs to be processed. By providing one or more cover and food lifting openings configured such that a cover / food opening element can penetrate the inside of the food storage box, it may be possible to open the cover and to lift the food via one element or opening. Thus, a more efficient process may be provided.

[0007] Lifting and / or opening of the cover (and / or food) may also include lifting the cover (and / or food) by tilting (and optionally simultaneously lifting) the cover (and / or food). The opening may also be provided as a pre-cut in the base plate which, when the opening element penetrates the pre-cut area, it deflects the pre-cut and in the further movement of the opening element.

[0008] Preferably the first and / or second flap arrangement may be designed for repeatedly and / or non-destructively open and close the food lifting and / or cover lifting opening, respectively.

[0009] Preferably, the first and / or second flap arrangement are designed to completely cover the food lifting and / or cover lifting opening, respectively, or at least 80%, 90% or 95% of the food lifting and / or cover lifting opening. Thus, the respective openings may be covered effectively, and it may be avoided that contaminations or bacteria may enter the food storage box.

[0010] In case of the at least one cover and food lifting opening (combined opening) for opening the cover and lifting the food in combination by a food and cover lifting element, preferably a combined (e.g. integral or monolithic) flap arrangement may be deflected by the food and cover opening element such that the folding of the combined flap element lifts the food and lifts or tilts the cover in a common movement. Preferably, in a first movement phase of the food and cover opening element the food and cover are commonly moved while in a second movement phase of the food and cover opening element only the cover is further moved (e.g. tilted). For example, the folding of the combined flap arrangement is such that the combined lifting element laterally passes the combined flap arrangement and touches the cover directly for opening until a predefined opening position.

[0011] Preferably the food storage box as well as the first, second or combined flap arrangement may be made of food grade corrugated board. Thus, all of the components of the food storage box may be recyclable.

[0012] The food stored inside the food storage box may be situated on the first and / or second flap arrangement such that the cover opening / food lifting element may indirectly interact with the food stored inside the storage box. Preferably the food is lifted and / or tilted by first flap arrangement on which it is (at least partially resting) instead of lifting / tilting the food by direct contact with the food lifting element. Preferably the cover is completely of in a first movement phase of the cover opening element tilted (and / or lifted) by the second flap arrangement and further preferably in a second movement phase of the cover opening element the further tilting (and / or lifting) is provided by a direct contact between the cover opening element and the cover.

[0013] Preferably the first and / or second flap arrangement is connected to the food storage box, in particular connected to the base plate, for example the first and / or second flap arrangement is glued onto the top side of the base plate; and / or wherein the first and / or second flap arrangement is pivotable with respect to the base plate.

[0014] The first and / or second flap arrangement may be designed pivotable with respect to the base plate. Thereby they may be pivoted away from the respective openings when the cover opening / food lifting element penetrates from the bottom side of the base plate into the inside of the food storage.

[0015] Preferably the first and / or second flap arrangement is pivotable with respect to the base plate such that when the food lifting element / cover opening element penetrates the food storage box the first and / or second flap arrangement may be pivoted along a horizontal direction / line, such that the food lifting element / cover opening element can enter the food storage box more effectively.

[0016] Preferably the first and / or second flap arrangement comprises one or more folding zones each adapted to define a pivoting or deflection axis when the first and / or second flap arrangement is deflected, respectively, and / or wherein the first and / or second flap arrangement comprises at least two folding zones which are spaced from each other such that when the first and / or second flap arrangement is raised by penetration of the food lifting element and / or opening element, respectively, the first and / or second flap arrangement is folded along the first and a second folding zone such that a plane portion of the first and / or second flap arrangement is raised parallel to the base plate.

[0017] Preferably one or more folding zones on the first and / or second flap arrangement are provided such that a controlled movement of the first and / or second flap arrangement is execute when the food lifting element / cover opening element penetrates the food storage box. As the food may be arranged on the first and / or second flap arrangement and the respective arrangement may be folded such that a food supporting plane portion is created and raised parallel to the base plate, when the respective cover opening / food lifting element penetrates the food storage box, it may be possible to lift the food stored in the food storage box parallel to the base plate.

[0018] Preferably in a closed state the first flap arrangement fully or essentially fully covers the area of the food lifting opening or covers the area of the food lifting opening and an area adjacent thereto, and / or in the closed state the second flap arrangement fully or essentially fully covers the area of the at least one cover lifting opening or covers the area of the cover lifting opening and an area adjacent thereto. "Essentially fully" means that the respective opening area is covered by the first and / or second flap arrangement by at least 90% or at least 95%. By providing a first / second flap arrangement that fully or essentially fully covers the area of the food / cover lifting opening effects avoidance of contamination or bacteria reaching the food. Furthermore, the water vapor and heat of the prepared food after processing the food may be kept inside the food storage box, such that the food may be digestible for a prolonged period. By covering the area of the food / cover lifting opening and an area adjacent thereto, this effect may be further enhanced.

[0019] Preferably the first flap arrangement and the second flap arrangement are integrated in a common flap element, and / or wherein the first and / or second flap arrangement is attached at the inner side of the box, in particular is attached to the inner side of the base plate.

[0020] By integrating the first and second flap arrangement into one common flap element the food and cover opening may be covered by only one component, such that it may be easier to arrange the flap arrangement in the storage box. Furthermore, it may be possible to produce the common flap element as a unitary element, such that a more cost-effective solution may be obtained.

[0021] Preferably the common flap element is attached or connected to the inner side food storage box, wherein preferably the common flap element is provided as an inlay attached to the base plate, or wherein the common flap element is a unitary part of the food storage box, which comprises movable portions that are separated by a cut out from the food storage box.

[0022] The common flap element may be attached or connected to the inner side of the food storage box by glue. Alternatively, it may be also possible to staple the common flap element to the inner side of the food storage box such that a tighter connection may be provided.

[0023] By providing the common flap element as a unitary part of the food storage box, the production process may be facilitated as the common flap element may not be produced individually, but already as a part of the food storage box. Resultingly, the food storage box may be produced with less material expenditure and thus more cost-effectively.

[0024] Preferably the base plate and the cover are pivotably connected to each other by a common side wall, and / or wherein the base plate and / or the cover comprise side walls, and / or wherein the side walls of the base plate and the side walls of the cover are substantially in contact with each other in the closed state of the food storage box.

[0025] As the side walls of the base plate and the side walls of the cover are substantially in contact with each other the food storage box may be closed effectively, such that no contaminations may enter the food storage box from the side. Furthermore, water vapor and excess heat that results from processing the food may be kept in the food storage box. Preferably, the side walls of the base plate and the side walls of the cover may overlap each other.

[0026] Preferably the base plate and the cover of the food storage box comprise side walls, respectively; and / or wherein the base plate and the cover are pivotably connected to each other by a or the common side wall, wherein the side walls of the cover adjacent to the common side wall and the side walls of the base plate adjacent to the common side wall comprise an overlap area when seen in lateral view and when the cover is opened up to a maximum opening angle between the base plate and the cover, and wherein the maximum opening angle is at 70°, 60°, 50° or 45°, and wherein in particular the overlap area is at least 0.25 cm 2< , at least 0.5 cm 2< , or at least 1 cm 2< at the maximum opening angle.

[0027] By a maximum opening angle or an overlap area of the food storage box, it may be possible to limit the opening of the food storage box area and thus to keep the area by which contaminations may enter the food storage box as minimal as possible. Furthermore, after the stored food is processed, it may be reinserted into the food box. By a maximum opening angle between the cover and the base plate, the excess water vapor of the processed food may be kept more effectively in the food storage box during the insertion and subsequent closing of the cover of the food storage box.

[0028] An arrangement comprising a food storage box (preferably as described above or below) and a food lifting element is provided. The food lifting element is adapted to penetrate the at least one food lifting opening to lift the food stored in the food storage box. Alternatively or additionally, the arrangement further comprises a cover opening element adapted to penetrate the at least one cover lifting opening to open the cover of the food storage box. Or the arrangement further comprises a cover / food opening element adapted to penetrate the at least one cover and food lifting opening to open the cover and to lift the food stored in the food storage box. Optionally the arrangement comprises a food lifter adapted to extract lifted food from the opened food storage box and / or adapted to reinsert a processed food into the opened food storage box. The arrangement may allow to interact with the food storage box, in particular it may allow extracting and / or reinserting the food that is stored inside the food storage box.

[0029] Preferably the food lifting element is configured such that the food is lifted out of the food storage box wherein that the plane portion of the first and / or second flap arrangement is arranged higher than the side wall of the base plate that is arranged opposite of the common side wall.

[0030] As a result, when the food lifter lifts the food stored in the food storage box, the lifted food may be positioned raised relative to the elements of the bottom plate. Thus, a food lifter may extract the lifted food more efficiently from the food storage box.

[0031] A food processing apparatus is provided, comprising a food storage device adapted to store a plurality of food storage boxes, preferably each as described above or below. The food processing apparatus further comprises a food processing device for processing food stored in one of the food storage boxes when removed from the food storage box. The food processing apparatus further comprises: i) a food lifting element adapted to penetrate the at least one food lifting opening to lift the food stored in one of the plurality of food storage boxes, and / or ii) a cover opening element adapted to penetrate the at least one cover lifting opening to open the cover of one of the plurality of food storage boxes, or iii) a cover / food opening element adapted to penetrate the at least one cover and food lifting opening to open the cover of and to lift the food stored in one of the plurality of food storage boxes; and a food lifter adapted to extract lifted food from the opened one of the plurality of food storage boxes (the opened food storage box has the or an opened cover), and / or adapted to reinsert a processed food into the opened one of the plurality of food storage boxes (the one food storage boxes having the or an opened cover).

[0032] A plurality of food storage boxes (each including one food to be processed) may be stored inside the food storage device. Furthermore, the food stored in one of the plurality of food storage boxes may be extracted and preferably reinserted by the food processing apparatus.

[0033] A method of lifting a cover and / or lifting food stored in a food storage box is provided. Preferably the food storage box is configured as described above or below, wherein the food storage box comprises a base plate adapted to support the food to be stored thereon, and a cover adapted to cover the food from above. The base plate comprises: A) at least one food lifting opening and a first flap arrangement covering the at least one food lifting opening, wherein the method comprises: moving a lifting element through the at least one food lifting opening thereby lifting and / or tilting at least a portion of the first flap arrangement and thereby lifting the food to be stored within the food storage box; and / or B) at least one cover lifting opening and a second flap arrangement covering the at least one cover lifting opening, wherein the method comprises: moving a cover opening element through the at least one cover lifting opening thereby lifting and / or tilting at least a portion of the second flap arrangement towards the cover and thereby opening the cover; or C) at least one cover and food lifting opening and a combined flap arrangement covering the at least one food and cover lifting opening, wherein the method comprises: moving a cover / food opening element through the at least one cover and food lifting opening thereby lifting and / or tilting at least a portion of the combined flap arrangement and thereby lifting the food and opening the cover.

[0034] Preferably the method further comprises D) in case of step A): withdrawing the food lifting element out of the at least one food lifting opening and thereby descending the lifted food to be stored and descending the first flap arrangement such that it covers the at least one food lifting opening; and / or E) in case of step B): withdrawing the cover opening element out of the at least one cover lifting opening and thereby descending the opened cover and descending the second flap arrangement such that it covers the at least one cover lifting opening; or F) in case of step C): withdrawing the cover / food opening element out of the at least one cover and food lifting opening and thereby descending the lifted food to be stored and descending the combined flap arrangement such that it covers the at least one cover and food lifting opening.

[0035] As a result, after the food has been processed, it may be possible to reinsert the food inside the food storage box. By withdrawing the food lifting element, the processed food may be repositioned onto the base plate by lowering the first and / or second flap arrangement. Furthermore, the food lifting opening may be closed by the first flap arrangement, such that no contamination may enter through the food lifting opening and no water vapor produced by processing the stored food may leave the food storage box. By withdrawing the cover opening element, the cover of the food storage box and the cover lifting opening may be closed (the latter by the second flap arrangement). As a result, no contamination may enter the food storage box through the cover or the cover lifting opening.

[0036] Preferably the method further comprises after one of the steps A), B) or C): moving a food lifter into the opened food storage box (1) to the lifted food, extracting the lifted food from the food storage box (1) using the food lifter, moving the food to a food processing apparatus. It optionally further comprises removing the processed food from the food processing apparatus, optionally inserting the processed food into the food storage box (1) using the food lifter, or optionally performing step D), E or F) after initially having performed step A), B) or C), respectively.

[0037] Preferably the food lifter is configured to extract / insert the lifted food laterally out off / into the opened food storage box, or the food lifter is configured to extract / insert the lifted food from the plane portion of the first and / or second flap arrangement.

[0038] Accordingly, it may be possible to extract the food by the food lifter from various angles. Thus, a more flexible process of extracting the food out of the food storage device may be provided.

[0039] Preferably the base plate and the cover of the food storing box are pivotably connected to each other by a or the common side wall and wherein the base plate and the cover comprise side walls adjacent to the common side wall. The method further comprising moving the cover opening element through the at least one cover lifting opening of the food storage box such that the cover is opened up to a maximum opening angle between the base plate and the cover, wherein the maximum opening angle is preferably 70°, 60°, 50° or 45°, and / or such that when seen in lateral view there is a minimum overlap area between the side walls of the cover and the sidewalls of the base plate, wherein preferably the minimum overlap area is at least 0.25 cm 2< , 0.5 cm 2< , or 1 cm 2< .

[0040] It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combinations indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation. In particular, the features of the different aspects, embodiments and examples can be combined with each other unless noted to the contrary.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] In the following figures examples are shown and described in further detail. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements. Fig.1 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of a food storage box. Fig. 2is a schematic drawing showing a rear view of a food storage box. Fig. 3is a schematic drawing showing a top view of a food storage box. Fig. 4is a schematic drawing showing a top view of a food storage box. Fig. 5is a schematic drawing showing a front view of a common flap element of a food storage box. Fig. 6is a schematic drawing showing a front view of a common flap element of a food storage box. Fig. 7is a schematic drawing showing a front view of a food storage box. Fig. 8is a schematic drawing showing a side view of a food lifter and a food storage box . Fig. 9is a schematic drawing showing a base plate of a food storage box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a food storage box 1. The food storage box 1 comprises a base plate 2 and a cover 3. In the example, both the base plate 2 and the cover comprise lateral side walls 4, respectively. The base plate 2 and the cover 3 are pivotably connected to each other by a common or shared side wall 5 at the rear side, shown in Fig. 3. The pivotable connection allows to open the cover 3 of the food storage box 1. During handling of the box 1 in a food processing apparatus (not shown), preferably the cover is only opened up to a maximum opening angle α between the base plate and the cover. The maximum opening angle α is for example an angle of 70°, 60°, 50° or 45°. By opening up to a maximum opening angle an overlap area 6 remains between the lateral side walls 4 next to the pivot axis or common side wall 5. The overlap area 6 prevents that the inner ones of the side walls 4 swing out and / or the outer ones of the side walls 4 swing in which may result in blockage of a closing of the cover 3 after reinsertion of the processed food 7. I.e. without alignment of the upper and lower side walls 4 by the overlap area 6 it may occur that the cover 6 does not smoothly when a cover opening element 22 is withdrawn from a cover lifting opening 22 (see below)

[0043] Fig. 2 shows the food storage box in a perspective bottom view. The bottom plate 2 of the food storage box 1 comprises cover lifting openings 20 and food lifting openings 10. In particular, it comprises two cover lifting openings 20 which are arranged preferably close to the common side wall 5 at and close to opposite side walls 4 of the bottom plate 2. It further comprises two food lifting openings 10 arranged in at a center region of the bottom plate. By arranging the cover lifting openings 20 close to the common side wall 4 the cover opening element 22 (see Fig. 8) may penetrate the inside of the food storage box 1 and lift the cover 3 without interfering with the stored food, as the stored food is normally positioned close to the middle of the food storage box 1. Also with this arrangement the penetration depth of the cover opening element 22 into the food storage box 1 may be kept small. Arranging the food lifting openings 10 in the center region of the bottom plate 2 may be advantageous, as this is the regular storage position of the stored food. Thus, if the food lifting element 12 penetrates the food storage box 1 the food may be lifted out of the box 1 efficiently (see Figs. 5 and 8). By using two food 10 and cover lifting openings 20 it may be possible for the food lifting and cover opening element 22 to penetrate these two openings. It may thus be possible for the food lifting element 12 to better balance the food when it is lifted from the bottom plate 2 of the box 1, in comparison to only one cover lifting opening 20. Also the opening of the cover 3 is facilitated by providing two cover lifting openings 20 through which each an element of the cover opening element 22 symmetrically pushes the cover upward. Thus, such that a more reliable cover lifting mechanism is provided.

[0044] In Fig. 3, an opened food storage box 1 is shown in which the flap arrangement has been omitted for a better visibility. The cover 3 and the base plate 2 comprise side walls 4, which overlap when the food storage box 1 is in a closed state. By this contamination or bacteria may not enter the food storage box 1. Furthermore, the heat after processing the food may be kept effectively in the box 1. As mentioned above the side walls 4 of the cover 3 adjacent to the common side wall 5 and the side walls 4 of the base plate 2 adjacent to the common side wall 5 form an overlap area 6 (Fig. 1) when seen in lateral view and when the cover is opened to the maximum opening angle α. The overlap area 6 is at least 0.25 cm 2< , at least 0.5 cm 2< , or at least 1 cm 2< at the maximum opening angle α.

[0045] Fig. 4 shows the opened food with a common flap element 30 integrating both the first flap arrangement 11 and the second flap arrangement 21. In the closed state the common flap element 30 fully covers the area of the cover lifting opening 20 and an area adjacent thereto, and it also covers the area of the at least one food lifting opening 10 and an area adjacent thereto. Thereby contaminations entering the food storage box through the respective lifting openings 10, 20 may be avoided.

[0046] In the present example, the common flap element 30 comprises two folding zones 31, 32 (Fig. 5) which are spaced from each other such that when the common flap element 30 is raised by penetration of the food lifting element 12 and / or the cover opening element 22, respectively, the common flap element 30 is folded in the first and the second folding zone 31, 32 such that a plane portion of the common flap element 30 is raised parallel and spaced upwards to the base plate 2. By this lifting and folding a tray-like structure may be created when the food is lifted from the base plate 2 by the food lifting element 12. The two first folding zones are arranged symmetrically with respect to a middle part of the common flap element 30. The first folding zone 31 of the common flap element is arranged close to the middle part of the common flap element 30. When the food lifting / cover opening element 12, 22 penetrates the respective openings, the common flap element may extend from the two first folding zones 31 with an angle in a range between 45° and 70° from the base plate. The common flap element 30 of Fig. 6 also comprises the two second folding zones 31, 32 which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the middle part of the common flap element 30. The common flap element may extend parallel to the base plate from the second folding zones 32. The angle and the segment length of the common flap element 30 between the first folding zone 31 and the second folding zone 32 defines the lifting height of the food lifted by the food lifting element 12. The common flap element extending from the second folding zone may act as a tray on which the stored food is lifted to be extracted by a food lifter 40.

[0047] Fig. 5 shows the common flap element 30 in a state in which the food is lifted by the food lifting element 12 from the bottom plate 2. In a middle part the common flap element 30 may be attached or connected to the inner side of the food storage box 1. Preferably the common flap element 30 is provided as an inlay attached to the base plate 2. As can be seen in connection with Fig. 6 it may be also alternatively possible that the common flap element 30 is a unitary part of the food storage box 1, which comprises movable portions that are separated by a cut out from the food storage box 1.

[0048] Fig. 7 shows the food storage box 1 with the two first and second folding zones similar to Figs. 5 and 6. The common flap element is configured such that when the food is lifted out of the food storage box 1 by the food lifting element 12, the upper portion of the common flap element 30 is located higher than the side wall 4 of the base plate 2 that is arranged opposite of the common side wall 5. As a result, the flat food 7 is situated in an exposed position which allows a food lifter 40 to extract the flat food 7 from the food storage box 1.

[0049] Fig. 8 shows this situation in a side view. The top 3 of the food storage box 1 is opened by the cover lifting element 22 by penetrating the cover lifting openings 20. Furthermore, the stored food is lifted by the food lifting element 12 by penetrating the food lifting openings 10. After folding the common flap element 30 forms a tray-like shape when the flat food 7 is lifted from the bottom plate 2 of the food storage box 1. The flat food 7 is thus raised to be exposed above the bottom plate and side walls such that a food lifter 40 can extract the lifted flat food 7 from the tray-like shape of the common flap element 30. Thus, an efficient extraction process of the stored food may be ensured. Furthermore, after the flat food 7 is processed it may be possible to reinsert the flat food 7 via the food lifter on the tray-like shape of the common flap element 30. Then the food lifting element 12 may retreat the penetration into the food storage box 1 and thereby the flat food 7 is repositioned on the bottom plate 2 and the food lifting opening 10 is closed by the common flap element 30. Additionally, the cover opening element 22 retreats its penetration into the food storage box 1 such that the cover 3 of the food storage box 1 is closed again and the common flap element 30 closes the cover lifting opening 20. Thus, all of the respective openings 10, 20 are closed by the common flap element 30 and no water vapor or excess heat can leave the inside of the food storage box. As a result, the processed food inside the food storage box may be kept warm for a longer period of time. Furthermore, no contaminations may enter the food storage box, such that food safety of the food stored inside the food storage box may be ensured.

[0050] In Fig. 9, an alternative design of a bottom plate 2 comprising one food lifting opening 10 and one cover lifting opening 20 is shown. The food lifting opening 10 comprises a first flap arrangement 11 and the cover lifting opening 20 comprises a second flap arrangement 21. Both, the first and second flap arrangement 11, 21 may be provided on the base plate 2 of the food storage box 1 as swing-out portions of the base plate 2. I.e. the flap arrangements 11, 21 are unitary or monolithic parts of the base plate 2. The respective first and second flap arrangements 11, 21 are designed as a negative of the respective openings 10, 20. Thereby, in a closed state the first flap arrangement 11 fully covers the area of the food lifting opening 10 and the second flap arrangement 21 fully covers the area of the cover lifting opening 20. Thus, the openings may be closed effectively in a closed state of the respective openings 10, 20 and no contaminations may enter the food storage box 1. The respective openings 10, 20 may be opened by a folding provided on the bottom plate 2, such that the first and second flap arrangements 11, 21 may be pivoted with respect to the bottom plate.Reference Numerals:

[0051] 1food storage box 2base plate 3cover 4side wall 5common side wall 6overlap area 7flat food (pizza) 10food lifting opening 11first flap arrangement 12food lifting element 20cover lifting opening 21second flap arrangement 22cover opening element 30common flap element 31first folding zone 32second folding zone 40food lifter αopening angle

Claims

1. Food storage box (1), in particular box adapted for storing flat food (7) like pizza or tarte flambee, comprising: a base plate (2) adapted to support the food to be stored thereon, and a cover (3) adapted to cover the food from above, wherein the base plate (2) comprises: a) at least one food lifting opening (10) configured such that a food lifting element (12) can penetrate the at least one food lifting opening to lift the food to be stored, wherein a first flap arrangement (11) is assigned to the at least one food lifting opening (10) and is adapted to open and close the at least one food lifting opening (10), and / or b) at least one cover lifting opening (20) configured such that a cover opening element (22) can penetrate the at least one cover lifting opening (20) to open the cover (3), wherein a second flap arrangement (21) is assigned to the at least one cover lifting opening (20) and is adapted to open and close the at least one cover lifting opening (20), or c) at least one cover and food lifting opening configured such that a cover / food opening element can penetrate the at least one cover and food lifting opening to open the cover (3) and to lift the food to be stored, wherein a combined flap arrangement is assigned to the at least one food and cover lifting opening and is adapted to open and close the at least one food and cover lifting opening.

2. Food storage box according to claim 1, wherein the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) is connected to the food storage box (1), in particular connected to the base plate (2); and / or wherein the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) is pivotable with respect to the base plate (2).

3. Food storage box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) comprises one or more folding zones (31, 32) each adapted to define a pivoting or deflection axis when the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) is deflected, respectively, and / or wherein the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) comprises at least two folding zones (31, 32) which are spaced from each other such that when the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) is raised by penetration of the food lifting element (12) and / or cover opening element (22), respectively, the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) is folded in a first and a second folding zone (31, 32) such that a plane portion of the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21) is raised parallel to the base plate (2).

4. Food storage box according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in a closed state the first flap arrangement (11) fully or essentially fully covers the area of the food lifting opening (10) or covers the area of the food lifting opening (10) and an area adjacent thereto, and / or wherein in the closed state the second flap arrangement (21) fully or essentially fully covers the area of the at least one cover lifting opening (20) or covers the area of the cover lifting opening (20) and an area adjacent thereto.

5. Food storage box according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first flap arrangement (11) and the second flap arrangement (21) are integrated in a common flap element (30), and / or wherein the first (11) and / or second flap arrangement (21) is attached at the inner side of the box (1), in particular is attached to the inner side of the base plate (2).

6. Food storage box according to claim 5, wherein the common flap element (30) is attached or connected to the inner side food storage box (1), wherein preferably the common flap element (30) is provided as an inlay attached to the base plate (2), or wherein the common flap element (30) is a unitary part of the food storage box (1), which comprises movable portions that are separated by a cut out from the food storage box (1).

7. Food storage box according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate (2) and the cover (3) are pivotably connected to each other by a common side wall (5), and / or wherein the base plate (2) and / or the cover (3) comprise(s) side wall(s) (4), and / or wherein the side walls (4) of the base plate (2) and the side walls (4) of the cover (3) are substantially in contact with each other in the closed state of the food storage box (1).

8. Food storage box according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate (2) and the cover (3) comprise side walls (4), respectively; and / or wherein the base plate (2) and the cover (3) are pivotably connected to each other by a or the common side wall (5), wherein the side walls of the cover (3) adjacent to the common side wall and the side walls (4) of the base plate (2) adjacent to the common side wall comprise an overlap area (6) when seen in lateral view and when the cover is opened up to a maximum opening angle (α) between the base plate and the cover, and wherein preferably the maximum opening angle (α) is at 70°, 60°, 50° or 45°, and / or wherein preferably the overlap area (6) is at least 0.25 cm2, at least 0.5 cm2, or at least 1 cm2 at the maximum opening angle (α).

9. Arrangement comprising: a food storage box (1) according to any of the preceding claims, and i) a food lifting element (12) adapted to penetrate the at least one food lifting opening (10) to lift the food stored in the food storage box (1), and / or ii) a cover opening element (22) adapted to penetrate the at least one cover lifting opening (20) to open the cover (3), or iii) a cover / food opening element adapted to penetrate the at least one cover (3) and food lifting opening (10) to open the cover (3) and to lift the food stored in the food storage box (1), and optionally a food lifter adapted to extract lifted food from the opened food storage box (1), and / or adapted to reinsert a processed food into the opened food storage box (1).

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the food lifting element (12) is configured such that the food is lifted out of the food storage box such that the plane portion of the first (11) and / or second flap arrangement (21) is arranged higher than the side wall (4) of the base plate that is arranged opposite of the common side wall.

11. Food processing apparatus comprising: a food storage device adapted to store a plurality of food storage boxes (1) each according to any of the previous claims 1 to 8 and each having food stored therein; a food processing device for processing food when removed from one of the food storage boxes (1); i) a food lifting element (12) adapted to penetrate the at least one food lifting opening (10) to lift the food stored in one of the plurality of food storage boxes (1), and / or ii) a cover opening element (22) adapted to penetrate the at least one cover lifting opening (20) to open the cover (3) of one of the plurality of food storage boxes (1), or iii) a cover / food opening element adapted to penetrate the at least one cover and food lifting opening (10) to open the cover (3) of and to lift the food stored in one of the plurality of food storage boxes (1); and a food lifter being adapted to extract lifted food from the opened one of the plurality of food storage boxes (1), and / or being adapted to reinsert a processed food into the opened one of the plurality of food storage boxes (1).

12. Method of lifting a cover (3) and / or lifting food stored in a food storage box (1), in particular a food storage box (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 8, the food storage box (1) comprising: a base plate (2) adapted to support the food to be stored thereon, and a cover (3) adapted to cover the food from above, wherein the base plate (2) comprises: A) at least one food lifting opening (10) and a first flap arrangement (11) covering the at least one food lifting opening (10), wherein the method comprises: moving a food lifting element (12) through the at least one food lifting opening (10) thereby lifting and / or tilting at least a portion of the first flap arrangement (11) and thereby lifting the food to be stored within the food storage box (1); and / or B) at least one cover lifting opening (20) and a second flap arrangement (21) covering the at least one cover lifting opening (20), wherein the method comprises: moving a cover opening element (22) through the at least one cover lifting opening (20) thereby lifting and / or tilting at least a portion of the second flap arrangement (21) towards the cover (3) and thereby or then opening the cover (3); or C) at least one cover and food lifting opening and a combined flap arrangement (11,21) covering the at least one food and cover lifting opening, wherein the method comprises: moving a cover / food opening element through the at least one cover and food lifting opening thereby lifting and / or tilting at least a portion of the combined flap arrangement (11, 21) and thereby lifting the food and opening the cover (3).

13. Method according to claim 12, further comprising: D) in case of step A): withdrawing the food lifting element (12) out of the at least one food lifting opening (10) and thereby descending the lifted food to be stored and descending the first flap arrangement (11) such that it covers the at least one food lifting opening (10); and / or E) in case of step B): withdrawing the cover opening element (22) out of the at least one cover lifting opening (20) and thereby descending the opened cover (3) and descending the second flap arrangement (21) such that it covers the at least one cover lifting opening (20); or F) in case of step C): withdrawing the cover / food opening element out of the at least one cover and food lifting opening and thereby descending the lifted food to be stored and descending the combined flap arrangement (11, 21) such that it covers the at least one cover and food lifting opening.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising after one of the steps A), B) or C): moving a food lifter (40) into the opened food storage box (1) to the lifted food, extracting the lifted food from the food storage box (1) using the food lifter (40), moving the food to a food processing apparatus, optionally removing the processed food from the food processing apparatus, optionally inserting the processed food into the food storage box (1) using the food lifter (40), optionally performing step D), E or F) after initially having performed step A), B) or C), respectively.

15. Method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the food lifter (40) is configured to extract / insert the lifted food out off / into the opened food storage box, preferably laterally out of the opened food storage box, or wherein the food lifter (40) is configured to extract / insert the lifted food from the plane portion of the first and / or second flap arrangement (11, 21).

16. Method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the base plate (2) and the cover (3) are pivotably connected to each other by a or the common side wall and wherein the base plate (2) and the cover (3) comprise side walls (4) adjacent to the common side wall (5); the method further comprising moving the cover opening element (22) through the at least one cover lifting opening (20) such that the cover (3) is opened up to a maximum opening angle (α) between the base plate (2) and the cover (3), wherein the maximum opening angle (α) is preferably 70°, 60°, 50° or 45°, and / or such that when seen in lateral view there is a minimum overlap area between the side walls (4) of the cover (3) and the side walls (4) of the base plate (2), wherein preferably the minimum overlap area (5) is at least 0.25 cm2, 0.5 cm2, or 1 cm2.

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