Food container vacuum exhaust system including food container vacuum exhaust module and food container therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food container vacuum evacuation module (31) that can improve performance in terms of achievable vacuum and is also portable and easy to use, a food container vacuum evacuation system (300) including the same, and a food container (33) suitable for use within such a food container vacuum evacuation system (300).

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] The use of vacuum to improve the shelf life and storage of food products, or more precisely, the use of food containers under reduced pressure, has been generally known for many years, as described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,399,633.

[0002] The systems detailed in the above patents are bulky, however portable devices for home use are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,399,410, 5,443, 5,513,625 and 5,663,674.

[0003] Needless to say, the lower the pressure inside the food container, the better the food preservation, since the aerobic decomposition process is proportional to the oxygen concentration inside the container. In this regard, it is noteworthy to mention that most of the food vacuum systems for home use are only capable of achieving a limited vacuum level, i.e. about 400mbar to about 500mbar (40000 Pascals to 50000 Pascals).

[0004] An additional limitation, also inherent in the portable systems of the known art, is the coupling of the evacuation unit with the container to be evacuated. Such an operation is often not entirely simple, since sometimes a vertically elongated element needs to be firmly coupled to the lid valve in an essentially vertical plane (the lid of the container). In order to avoid mistakes in the coupling, great care must be taken in the positioning of the vacuum module on the food container, especially during the start-up phase. This problem can be overcome by the use of mechanical restraints that guarantee a correct coupling and thus allow the system to function, these mechanical restraints being usually mobile and subject to wear. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,266 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2002 / 046062 Brochure [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 7,096,893 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 7,389,629 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Improving the performance of the vacuum exhaust system comes at the expense of portability requirements due to the weight of the components, particularly with regard to the weight of the vacuum pump; such systems are usually permanent systems with a large rectangular base. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art with a portable system capable of achieving a higher vacuum in a food container, which in a first aspect consists in a food container vacuum evacuation module comprising a case housing a vacuum pump with a suction head, at the bottom of the food container vacuum evacuation module there are means for coupling the vacuum pump suction head with the food container, the vacuum pump weight is comprised between 100 g and 600 g, its pump flow rate is at least 0.2 l / min at a residual pressure of 20000 Pascal, the case can be inscribed in a box with a height comprised between 10 cm and 25 cm, a width comprised between 5 cm and 15 cm, a depth comprised between 3 cm and 7 cm, and at the bottom of the case there are two circular protrusions whose diameter is comprised between 10 mm and 80 mm and whose height is comprised between 3 mm and 50 mm, not taken into account for the dimensions of the box mentioned above. Preferably, the vacuum evacuation module of the present invention comprises a vacuum pump with a flow rate of at least 0.1 l / min at 15000 Pascal.

[0008] The term "inscribeable within a box" having particular dimensions indicates that the case will remain / be contained within such a box.

[0009] The combination of technical features of the food container vacuum evacuation module according to the present invention makes it possible to achieve high operational performance in terms of a secure connection between the vacuum evacuation module and the food container to be evacuated, combined with portability and ease of use of the system.

[0010] The combination of pump weight and pump flow rate at a given operating pressure are factors that allow one skilled in the art to clearly identify a suitable pump to reduce to practice the present invention, simply by looking at the information provided by the vacuum pump manufacturer, usually in the pump manual.

[0011] The invention is further explained with the aid of the following figures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a cutaway view of a food container vacuum evacuation module according to a most preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a cutaway view of a food container vacuum evacuation module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food vacuum evacuation system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] It should be emphasized that the above figures are representative schematic diagrams and illustrations, and therefore any dimensions or dimensional ratios should be considered merely indicative of particular elements, components, modules, systems according to the present invention.

[0014] Moreover, some auxiliary elements, such as electrical tracks and electrical circuits, are not shown because they are not essential for illustrating and understanding the core of the present invention and its underlying principles.

[0015] 1 shows a cutaway view of a first embodiment of a food container vacuum evacuation module 10 according to the present invention, which comprises a case 11, the lower part of which is somewhat shaped like binoculars, with two circular elements 12, 13 protruding from the bottom of the case 11. The circular elements 12, 13 act as interface elements with the outside environment, each performing a different function.

[0016] The circular element 12 is suitable for coupling with a suitable valve on the lid of a food container to be evacuated. It should be noted that its detailed structure and means for coupling with a suitable food container to be evacuated are well known to those skilled in the art, as described, for example, in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 5,399,623 and US Pat. No. 5,499,623, and are therefore not the subject of the present invention. In the following, the circular element 12 is also equivalently defined as "evacuation interface".

[0017] The circular element 13 comprises a receiver suitable for coupling with a charging base for charging the rechargeable battery 15, 15'. It is noted that the detailed structure and coupling means for charging the battery 15, 15' as well as the charging control routines are not the subject of the present invention, since they are widely known to the person skilled in the art and are widespread in the telecommunications field for mobile phone charging, as described, for example, in US 2012 / 249064. In the following, the circular element 13 is also equivalently defined as "charging interface".

[0018] Of course, within the case 11 there is suitable electrical circuitry (not shown) for delivering current to the rechargeable batteries 15, 15' which supply current to the Tee pump 14 and a display 19 to indicate the operating status of the module 10 as well as other useful information such as vacuum level and battery level. The batteries 15, 15' also supply current to the control electronics module, which is a printed circuit board (PCB) present within the module (not shown).

[0019] Preferably, the control electronics module should be able to switch between two operating modes: a standard mode when the food container vacuum evacuation module operates at full evacuation capacity, i.e. when the residual pressure in the coupled container reaches about 50 mbar (5000 Pascals), and a "soft vacuum" when the residual pressure remains at about 200 mbar (20000 Pascals). Such a dual operating mode allows for more versatility and allows for use with "soft shell" foods such as berries.

[0020] In the case of high pressure operation, the system according to the invention, i.e. with a pump having a flow rate of at least 0.2 l / min at a residual pressure of 20,000 Pascals, ensures that the target pressure is reached in a short time, which is a secondary advantage of the invention with respect to the main advantage associated with the standard mode, i.e. the ability to reach 50 mbar in less than one minute.

[0021] The pump 14 is composed of two main parts, namely a motor 14" and a suction head 14', with a connecting tube 140 connecting the suction head 14' to the vacuum interface 12. The battery 15, 15' also supplies current to a release valve 17, which is also connected to the vacuum interface 12 via a connecting tube 170, to enable the release of the coupled food container once a suitable vacuum level is reached. Such vacuum level can be measured by a pressure transducer 18 connected to the vacuum interface 12 via a tube 180. The release valve 17 may be automatically or manually controlled; in the case of an automatically controlled release valve, the preferred ones are based on a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire, a solenoid valve, or a piezoelectric valve.

[0022] As mentioned above, the invention is characterized by the use of a pump which makes it possible to achieve excellent vacuum levels, which is compact and lightweight and, more particularly, which, according to their specifications, has a pumping flow rate of at least 0.2 l / min at a residual pressure of 20,000 Pascals.

[0023] Such characteristics can be easily verified by a distribution curve, which is usually provided with the pump itself, or by connecting the pump to a suitable test bench. In this respect, the pump requirements are met if the pump flow rate is 0.2 l / min or more at a residual pressure of 20,000 Pascals or less (in a real environment it is meaningless to express absolute pressure values ​​as test conditions), and preferably 0.1 l / min or more at 15,000 Pascals. Another way to verify whether a pump is suitable for use is to verify whether a data point at 20,000 Pascals, measured directly or extrapolated by a flow rate / pressure curve, provides a pump flow rate of at least 0.2 l / min, or preferably a data point at 15,000 Pascals provides a pump flow rate of at least 0.1 l / min, during a vacuum-evacuation cycle from atmospheric pressure.

[0024] The present invention is not limited to a specific type of pump, even if the preferred pumps are so-called double-head T-type diaphragm pumps, single-head L-type pumps, rolling diaphragm pumps, and linear diaphragm pumps, as long as they meet the above specified conditions regarding flow rate at a specific pressure level. Moreover, such pumps shall also meet the condition of having a weight comprised between 100g and 600g.

[0025] Concerning the material of the case 11, it is preferred to use plastic, more preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC). The preferred solution is such that the shape of the case and the selected plastic material are optimized for the injection molding process, the above specified are the preferred materials, but the skilled person will immediately know how to select other variants, see for example the article "The impact of polymer selection and recycling on the sustainability of injection molded parts" by Vassallo et al., Procedia CIRP, Vol. 90, 2020, pp. 504-509.

[0026] Preferably, the case 11 has an internal support structure designed in nylon reinforced with glass fibers, preferably in an amount comprised between 15% and 35% by weight (calculated relative to the weight of the support structure), since combining strength and vibration absorption is the best solution. Variations can include as constituent materials recycled plastics, bioplastics, steel, aluminum alloys, or wood, since they can be advantageous in terms of various properties such as wear resistance, lightness, strength, sustainability / recyclability, etc.

[0027] More specifically, in order to maintain optimal easy handling and portability of the food container vacuum evacuation module 10, the total weight of the components excluding the vacuum pump should be comprised between 250g and 400g.

[0028] For the same reason, the shape of case 11 can be inscribed in a box whose height is comprised between 10 cm and 25 cm, whose width is comprised between 5 cm and 15 cm, and whose depth is comprised between 3 cm and 7 cm. Two circular projections whose diameter is comprised between 10 mm and 80 mm, and whose height is comprised between 3 mm and 50 mm, protrude from the bottom of case 11 (i.e., food container connecting parts) and are not taken into account for the above-mentioned box dimensions.

[0029] The shape of the case may vary so long as it meets the geometric requirements above, but it is preferred to use a rounded shape for ease of handling, with the lower part resembling a pair of binoculars being most preferred.

[0030] It should be emphasized that the food container vacuum exhaust module 10 depicted in FIG. 1 is a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the essential features of which are recited in the first claim of this application, and all other features are optional or easily modifiable by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0031] In this regard, the pressure transducer 18, whose preferred operating range is 0 Pascal to 100,000 Pascal, should be considered an optional element, since the pressure level can be determined, although less precisely, from the power absorbed by the vacuum pump (the lower the pressure, the lower the absorbed current) or by an evaluation based on the operating time of the vacuum pump.

[0032] The preferred way of recharging the rechargeable battery, whose energy is preferably between 1 Wh and 20 Wh, more preferably between 2 Wh and 15 Wh, is by the one outlined in Fig. 3, i.e. by inductive wireless charging. Alternatively, a suitable socket can be present in the case 11 to supply power via a cable by means of a suitable transformer. This also allows for modular operation when the battery is depleted, or alternative (and lighter) embodiments without a resident rechargeable battery, although this negates the portability of the system due to the constraints of the power cabling.

[0033] The present invention is not limited to a particular type of display, although a preferred one is an organic light emitting device (OLED), and in some alternative embodiments the display can be replaced with other types of communication elements and interfaces, such as LED lights with different color indicators, sound type communication, haptic feedback, etc.

[0034] The on-operation of the module may be realized via a button or a similar mechanical mechanism (lever, mechanical switch) or via a touch screen display. The off-operation may be set manually or may be activated automatically once an adequate vacuum is achieved in the food container connected to the food container vacuum evacuation module. At the same time, the module 10 may present some other additional elements, for example a vacuum pump muffler may be added depending on the noise during operation of the vacuum pump.

[0035] Also, another optional element is a port for connecting piping elements external to the module case with a vacuum pump suction head for evacuating a deformable food-containing element (i.e., a plastic pouch / bag), or more generally for coupling with a valve for a different type of food container.

[0036] A schematic cutaway view of a second embodiment of a food container vacuum evacuation module 20 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 2. The main difference with respect to Figure 1 is that the charging interface 13 is replaced by a gas bottle 231 whose opening and closing is controlled by an electronic driver 232, while a rechargeable battery can be recharged via a suitable socket in the food container vacuum evacuation module case for connection to mains power, allowing its portability and use without the need for proximity to a mains power socket.

[0037] The gas bottle 231 is refillable or replaceable and has a volume of preferably 5 cm 3 and 20cm 3 The interchangeable bottles make it easier to insert different gases into the food containers and thus allow the protective modified atmosphere to be tailored to preserve the food, the preferred gases used for such purposes being nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, and mixtures thereof. Some information on the role of various gases together with vacuumization for food preservation can be found, for example, in the chapter "Modified atmospheres and vacuum packaging" in the book "Food Preservatives" by ARDavies.

[0038] In addition, the pressure transducer 28 may be located at a different location, provided that the container coupled to the module 20 clearly presents a suitable interface for fluid-tight coupling with the gas bottle 231 .

[0039] In its second aspect, the invention is specific to a food container vacuum evacuation system 300 shown in Fig. 3, comprising a power supply module 32, a food container vacuum evacuation module 31 and a food container 33, said vacuum evacuation module 31 comprising a case housing a vacuum pump with a suction head, and at the bottom of the case there are means for coupling the vacuum pump suction head with the food container 33. This system 300 is characterized in that the vacuum pump weight is comprised between 100g and 600g, the pumping flow rate of the vacuum pump is at least 0.2 l / min at a residual pressure of 20000 Pascal (i.e. the same as the vacuum evacuation module 10), and that the food container 33 has first and second protruding coupling circles 331, 332 on its lid 330, the height of said circles being comprised between 3mm and 10mm.

[0040] The vacuum exhaust module 31 has an on / off button 311, and at the bottom there is a vacuum interface 312 and a charging interface 313.

[0041] The first coupling circle 331 on the food container lid 330 is for active evacuation of the food container 33, which means that it presents an element suitable for fluidly connecting the food container atmosphere with the vacuum pump suction head in a safe and efficient manner, i.e. it presents a check valve capable of preventing undesired air ingress into the food container 33 during release of the evacuation module 31 from the food container via activation of the release valve, and at the same time preventing any ejection in the evacuation module 31 from the food container 33 during evacuation.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, ventilation of the container 33 is performed directly via an exhaust valve that can be opened to allow ambient air to enter as the food product is consumed / accessed. In this regard, a preferred solution envisages the use of a lifting mechanism, such as a strap, to allow air ingress, as described in US Pat. No. 5,399,633.

[0043] The second coupling circle 332 of the food container lid 330 is simply a lid protrusion to provide mechanical stability to the vacuum system during operation through mechanical coupling with the charging interface 313 of the vacuum evacuation module 31. Needless to say, the inner diameters of the coupling circles 331, 332 must substantially match the outer diameters of the evacuation interface 312 and the charging interface 313, respectively.

[0044] The wireless charging base 32 has an inductive charging element 322 for suitable coupling and energy transfer to the charging interface 313 of the evacuation module 31. Moreover, it presents raised edges 321, 321' at its extremities to hold the evacuation module 31 in place during charging.

[0045] A variation of the system 300 uses the evacuation module 20 shown in Figure 2, whereby the system does not include a wireless charging base, but possibly includes a support base. In this variation, the second coupling circle 332 is replaced with a suitable fluid-tight interface for injecting a gaseous protective atmosphere during connection with the gas bottle 231 in the evacuation module 20, and then sealing the container after its disconnection. The advantages of combining vacuum and modified atmosphere for food preservation are described, for example, in US Patent No. 8,240,158.

[0046] As regards the power supply for the food container vacuum evacuation system according to the invention, it may be a transformer allowing a direct connection to the voltage mains, or, as already outlined, a transformer allowing the battery pack housed in the vacuum evacuation module to be coupled to a recharging base, preferably a wireless recharging base, or to be charged via the transformer described above.

[0047] In its third aspect, the present invention consists in a food container suitable to be combined with a food container vacuum evacuation module according to the present invention, said container including a lid and having an internal volume comprised between 0.2 liters and 2 liters.

[0048] The lid of the food container is preferably circular with a diameter between 100 and 220 mm and has a convex shape to improve resistance to pressure levels reached inside it. The lid has two circular outer protrusions that match the location and outer diameter of the charging and evacuation interfaces of the evacuation module, said protrusions having the function of reinforcing the lid structure by acting as structural reinforcing ribs in addition to improving the bond between the evacuation module and the container.

[0049] It should be emphasized that the present invention is not limited to any lid material or any particular lid thickness, as long as the lid can withstand the pressure difference between the external environment and the evacuated container. Such a combination of parameters can be easily ascertained by a person skilled in the art, taking into account the final vacuum level in the food container and a reasonable thickness. Most useful materials have a bending strength comprised between 30 MPa and 300 MPa. In a preferred embodiment, the lid is made of a plastic material, the minimum thickness of which is selected according to the bending strength of the material, starting from about 1 mm for more robust materials.

[0050] The minimum thickness of the lid typically accommodates a recess to accommodate the two food container vacuum module protrusions.

[0051] Preferably, the container is part of a kit of food containers constituted by a first, a second and a third container, the first container having a lid diameter comprised between 180 mm and 220 mm and an internal volume comprised between 1.3 liters and 2.0 liters, the second container having a lid diameter comprised between 150 mm and 180 mm and an internal volume comprised between 0.75 liters and 1.0 liters and the third container having a lid diameter comprised between 100 mm and 150 mm and an internal volume comprised between 0.2 liters and 0.5 liters. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10 food container vacuum exhaust module, 11 case, 12 vacuum interface, circular element, 13 charging interface, circular element, 14 T-shaped pump, 14' suction head, 14" motor, 15, 15' rechargeable battery, 17 release valve, 18, 28 pressure transducer, 19 display, 20, 31 food container vacuum exhaust module, 32 power module, wireless charging base, 33 food container, 140, 170 connecting tube, 180 tube, 231 gas bottle, 232 electronic driver, 300 food container vacuum exhaust system, 311 on / off button, 312 vacuum interface, 313 charging interface, 321, 321' edge, 322 inductive charging element, 330 food container lid, 331 first connecting circle, protruding connecting circle, 332 second connecting circle, protruding connecting circle

Claims

1. A food container vacuum evacuation module comprising a case having an upper part and a bottom part, wherein the case houses a vacuum pump having a suction head, at the bottom of the case there is means for coupling the suction head to vacuum evacuation adjustment means located on the lid of the food container, the weight of the vacuum pump is included between 100 g and 600 g, and its pump flow rate is at least 0.2 l / min at a residual pressure of 20,000 Pascals, the case is inscribable in a box having a height included between 10 cm and 25 cm, a width included between 5 cm and 15 cm, and a depth included between 3 cm and 7 cm, two circular protrusions having a height included between 3 mm and 50 mm and a diameter included between 10 mm and 80 mm are present at the bottom of the case, a food container vacuum evacuation module not considered for the dimensions of the box.

2. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump is selected from a double-head T-type diaphragm pump, a single-head L-type pump, a rolling diaphragm pump, a linear diaphragm pump.

3. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, wherein the cumulative weight of all elements of the food container vacuum evacuation module excluding the vacuum pump is included between 250 g and 400 g.

4. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, comprising one or more rechargeable battery packs.

5. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, comprising a pressure transducer.

6. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, comprising a valve for automatically evacuating the suction head, such valve being selected from a shape memory alloy wire control valve, an electromagnetic valve, and a piezoelectric valve.

7. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, comprising a display.

8. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum evacuation adjustment means located on the lid of the container comprises a port communicable with the suction head, forming an external vacuum piping connection with the port.

9. Comprising a gas bottle having means for coupling to a food container, The internal volume of the gas bottle is preferably between 5 cm ３ and 20 cm ３ The food container vacuum exhaust module according to claim 1, which is included between them.

10. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, wherein the material of the case includes plastic.

11. The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, wherein the case has an internal support structure designed with nylon reinforced with glass fiber.

12. A power supply module, The food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, A food container having a lid and having first and second protruding coupling circular portions on the lid, wherein the height of the circular portions is included between 3 mm and 10 mm, and the food container A food container vacuum evacuation system comprising:

13. The food container vacuum evacuation system according to claim 12, comprising a power cord and a transformer for the food container vacuum evacuation module.

14. A food container for coupling with the food container vacuum evacuation module according to claim 1, A food container including a circular lid having a diameter included between 100 mm and 220 mm and an internal volume included between 0.2 liters and 2 liters.

15. The food container has the following characteristics: The first container has a lid diameter included between 180 mm and 220 mm and an internal volume included between 1.3 liters and 2.0 liters, The second container has a lid diameter included between 150 mm and 180 mm and an internal volume included between 0.75 liters and 1.0 liters, The third container has a lid diameter included between 100 mm and 150 mm and an internal volume included between 0.2 liters and 0.5 liters, The food container according to claim 14, which is one of a kit of three containers having

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