Food tanks

Abstract

To provide a food tank suitable for transfer using transfer equipment. [Solution] The food tank comprises a bottomed tank body 1 for storing food, and a base 2 welded to the tank body 1 to support the tank body 1. The base 2 has a pallet opening PO lower than the tank body 1 for inserting the handling equipment of the transport device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to a tank for containing food products. [Background Art]

[0002] Food tanks are used when processing food products, for example meat, in factories and the like. Such a tank is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, meat being processed is contained in a tank. Large-capacity tanks are used, which can contain a large amount and / or heavy weight of meat. Since it is difficult for an operator to carry the tank by hand, casters are generally attached to the tank. This allows an operator to push and transport the tank.

[0004] However, such tanks with casters are not suitable for being transported by transfer equipment such as hand pallet trucks, forklifts, stacker cranes, and automatic guided vehicles (AGV). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2022-115433 [Brief Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] The present application provides a food tank suitable for being transported by transfer equipment. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a food tank, comprising: a bottomed tank body for containing food products; and a base welded to the tank body and supporting the tank body, The base has a pallet opening at a lower position than the tank body into which the cargo handling equipment of the transfer device is inserted.

[0008] For example, the base is provided with a mounting notch for receiving a holder for the tank washing machine in order to set the food tank in the tank washing machine. The mounting notches may be located on both sides in the horizontal direction relative to the tank body.

[0009] For example, the base is The pallet section having the aforementioned pallet opening, The tank comprises a support portion welded to the pallet portion and the tank body, The mounting notch may be formed in the support portion.

[0010] For example, the base is The pallet section having the aforementioned pallet opening is provided, The aforementioned pallet section is The upper frame of the square ring, The upper frame and the rectangular annular lower frame located below the tank body, The system comprises a plurality of spacers welded to the upper frame and the lower frame, The pallet opening may be defined by the upper frame, the lower frame, and the spacer.

[0011] The base comprises a pallet section having the pallet opening, The pallet portion may have a flat bottom surface that forms the bottom surface of the food tank.

[0012] For example, the pallet section is The upper frame of the square ring, The upper frame and the rectangular annular lower frame located below the tank body, The system comprises a plurality of spacers welded to the upper frame and the lower frame, The flat bottom surface is the bottom surface of the lower frame.

[0013] For example, the base may have a drainage notch.

[0014] For example, the base comprises: a pallet portion having said pallet opening; and a support portion welded to said pallet portion and said tank body, said pallet portion comprises: a square annular upper frame to which said support portion is connected, said drainage notch may be formed at an inner corner and / or an outer corner of the square annular upper frame.

[0015] For example, the pallet portion further comprises: a reinforcing piece provided along an inner side and an outer side of the upper frame and protruding upward, said reinforcing piece may not be present at said inner corner and / or said outer corner of said upper frame.

[0016] For example, a bottom surface of the accommodation space of the tank body may be narrowed downward.

[0017] For example, the food tank is an aging tank for aging meat. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example food tank. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the food tank of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the food tank of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4A is a perspective view partially showing the base of the tank of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a partial plan view of FIG. 4A. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, one example of a food tank is used to store and transport food, such as meat. More specifically, a food tank is a maturation tank used to store and mature processed meat.

[0021] The food storage tank comprises a tank body 1 with a loose bottom that has a storage space 10 for actually containing food. The tank body 1 has a periphery side wall 11 and a bottom wall 12 that define the storage space 10, and the upper end of the periphery side wall 11 is open.

[0022] The food storage tank further includes a base 2 that supports the tank body 1. The bottom wall 12 of the tank body 1 has a curved shape that tapers gently downwards (Figure 2), and therefore, the bottom surface of the storage space 10 also has a curved shape that tapers gently. This is preferable from the viewpoint of sanitation, such as ease of cleaning.

[0023] A tank body 1 of this shape is not self-supporting. Therefore, conventional tanks have casters on the bottom of the tank body to support it. The food tank of the present invention has a base 2 instead of casters. This base 2 is welded to the tank body 1 at the bottom wall 12, and supports the tank body 1 with its opening facing upward.

[0024] The base 2 comprises a pallet section 3 having a pallet opening PO, and support sections 4a and 4b connected to the tank body 1 and the pallet section 3 by welding.

[0025] The pallet section 3 comprises a rectangular annular upper frame 30 and a rectangular annular lower frame 31. These upper frame 30 and lower frame 31 are positioned around the tank body 1 and are arranged concentrically such that the central axis of the tank body 1 coincides with the centers of the rectangular annular shapes of these frames 30 and 31. The upper frame 30 is positioned at the same height as the bottom surface of the tank body 1, while the lower frame 31 is positioned below the upper frame 30 and the tank body 1.

[0026] Furthermore, the pallet section 3 includes a plurality of spacers 32 welded to the upper frame 30 and the lower frame 31. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, four spacers 32 are provided at the four corners of the square ring of the upper frame 30 and the lower frame 31. In addition, four spacers 32 are provided in the middle of the spacers 32 at the four corners.

[0027] The upper frame 30, the lower frame 31, and the spacer 32 define multiple pallet openings PO below the tank body 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pallet openings PO are formed on the periphery 4 side of the tank body 1, with two pallet openings PO formed on each side.

[0028] This pallet opening PO allows for the insertion of handling equipment (such as forks) from transport devices such as hand lifts, forklifts, stacker cranes, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Therefore, by inserting the handling equipment into the pallet opening PO, it becomes possible to support and lift food tanks and transport them using transport equipment.

[0029] Furthermore, it offers the convenience of being able to insert cargo handling equipment from any of the four surrounding sides. In addition, two pallet openings PO are formed on each side, allowing one fork to be inserted into one pallet opening PO and the other fork into the other pallet opening PO, providing further convenience.

[0030] The bottom of this food tank is formed by the flat bottom of the pallet section 3, more specifically, the flat bottom of the lower frame 31. Therefore, unlike conventional tanks with casters, it can be placed stably on a surface. This ensures stability when storing the food tank in a warehouse for meat aging or when transporting it on a conveyor or traverser.

[0031] The two support sections 4a are positioned in the center of each of the two opposing sides of the upper frame 30, and are located on both sides of the tank body 1 in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the two support sections 4b are positioned in the center of each of the remaining two opposing sides of the upper frame 30, and are located on the other sides of the tank body 1 in the horizontal direction. The support sections 4a and 4b are welded to the upper frame 30 and to the periphery of the bottom wall 12 of the tank body 1, respectively. Thus, the four support sections 4a and 4b are positioned around the tank body 1 at 90-degree angle intervals, supporting the tank body 1 from below.

[0032] In this embodiment, the support sections 4a and 4b are each composed of two plates.

[0033] The support portion 4a has mounting notches 40 that face outward relative to the tank body 1. Specifically, the notches 40 are formed on each of the two plates that make up the support portion 4a. As shown in Figure 2, the two support portions 4a are located on both sides of the tank body 1, and their mounting notches 40 form a pair.

[0034] There is a tank washing machine for washing food tanks. The washing machine is equipped with a pair of holders for setting and holding food tanks in predetermined locations on the washing machine when washing food tanks. These holders have a shape that corresponds to a notch 40 and are configured to fit into and be received by the notch 40. In other words, the washing machine sets and holds the food tank by fitting the pair of holders into the notches 40 of the support parts 4a on both sides.

[0035] Thus, food storage tanks are not only suitable for transfer using transfer equipment, but also have a configuration that makes them suitable for cleaning with tank cleaning machines.

[0036] The other two support sections 4b also have similar mounting notches 40. Therefore, the food tank has the advantage of being able to be set in the washing machine in two orientations.

[0037] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the pallet section 3 of the base 2 has drainage notches 300. The upper frame 30 of the pallet section 3 has reinforcing pieces 301 that are provided along its inner and outer edges on its upper surface and protrude upward. However, these reinforcing pieces 301 are not present at the inner and outer corners of the rectangular ring, and the aforementioned notches 300 are formed by the upper frame 30 being cut out at these inner and outer corners. The same applies to the remaining three corners of the rectangular ring of the upper frame 30.

[0038] Large-capacity tanks may be used for food storage, and the tank's strength is reinforced by the reinforcing piece 301.

[0039] As described above, the food tank is configured to be set in a washing machine for cleaning. Due to the presence of the reinforcing piece 301, water (such as washing water) may accumulate on the upper surface of the upper frame 30 after cleaning. However, this water can be discharged to the outside through the notch 300 described above.

[0040] The tank body 1 and the base 2 (pallet section 3, support section 4) are both made of metal, such as stainless steel.

[0041] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present application is not limited to these embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Tank body 10 Containment space 2 bases 20 Bottom wall 3. Pallet section 30 Upper frame 301 Reinforcement piece 31 Bottom frame 32 Spacers 4a,4b Support part PO pallet opening

Claims

1. It is a food storage tank, A bottomed tank body for storing food, The tank body is welded to the tank body and includes a base that supports the tank body, The base has a pallet opening at a lower position than the tank body into which the cargo handling equipment of the transfer device is inserted. Food storage tank.

2. The base is provided with a mounting notch for receiving a holder for the tank washing machine in order to set the food tank in the tank washing machine. The mounting notches are located on both sides in the horizontal direction relative to the tank body. A food tank according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned base is The pallet section having the aforementioned pallet opening, The tank comprises a support portion welded to the pallet portion and the tank body, The mounting notch is formed in the support portion. A food tank according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned base is The pallet section having the aforementioned pallet opening is provided, The aforementioned pallet section is The upper frame of the square ring, The upper frame and the rectangular annular lower frame located below the tank body, The system comprises a plurality of spacers welded to the upper frame and the lower frame, The pallet opening is defined by the upper frame, the lower frame, and the spacer. A food tank as described in claim 1.

5. The base comprises a pallet section having the pallet opening, The pallet portion has a flat bottom surface that forms the bottom surface of the food tank. A food tank according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned pallet section is The upper frame of the square ring, The upper frame and the rectangular annular lower frame located below the tank body, The system comprises a plurality of spacers welded to the upper frame and the lower frame, The flat bottom surface is the bottom surface of the lower frame. A food tank according to claim 5.

7. The base has a drainage notch. A food tank according to claim 1.

8. The aforementioned base is The pallet section having the aforementioned pallet opening, The tank comprises a support portion welded to the pallet portion and the tank body, The pallet section includes a rectangular ring-shaped upper frame to which the support section is connected. The drainage notches are formed at the inner and / or outer corners of the square ring of the upper frame. A food tank according to claim 7.

9. The aforementioned pallet section further, The upper frame is provided with reinforcing pieces that are provided along the inner and outer edges and protrude upward, The reinforcing piece is not present at the inner and / or outer corners of the upper frame. A food tank according to claim 8.

10. The bottom of the storage space in the tank body is tapered downwards. A food tank according to claim 1.

11. The aforementioned food tank is a maturation tank for maturing meat. A food tank according to claim 1.

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