Sheeting fixture for food transport containers

Abstract

To provide a sheet covering jig which can easily and surely push a soft resin sheet into a food transport vessel such as a food tray, and can cover a bottom face, an internal peripheral face and an opening edge part.SOLUTION: A sheet covering jig 10 for a food transport vessel 1 has: a box-shaped insertion part 20 for pushing a soft resin sheet 5 into an inside space 3 relatively from above so as to cover a bottom face 3A and an internal peripheral face 3B of an opening edge part 4 and an inside space 3 of the upwardly-opened box-shaped food transport vessel 1; a hinge part 30; and a grip part 40. The insertion part 20 is composed of a pair of divided insertion parts 21A, 21B which are upwardly opened, formed into box shapes, and have the same shapes, and the hinge part 30 is constituted so as to connect opposite sidewall upper end edges being upper end edges of opposing sidewalls 22A, 22B being a pair of sidewalls which adjoin each other in a state that the divided insertion parts 21A, 21B are aligned so as to be relatively swingable within a constant range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet-hanging jig for food transport containers such as food containers called food trays. [Background technology]

[0002] Banju are boxes without lids, and sometimes have holes on either end so that the carrier can hold onto them. They come in various sizes, but the basic rule is that they should be able to be carried by one person with both hands.

[0003] Its characteristics include its thinness and the use of thick plates, which is thought to be due to the need for durability as a transport container and to withstand stacking.

[0004] It is mainly used in manufacturing industries where humidity control is important for products such as confectionery, bread, noodles, and rice cakes.

[0005] When actually used, the sheet is usually used to cover the inside of the food container (bottom, inner periphery) and the edge of the opening, and noodles, rice cakes, bread, sweets, etc. are placed on top of it and transported.

[0006] The process of applying the sheet is not automated, and the sheet is a commercially available bag. In other words, when used as a sheet, it has a two-ply structure.

[0007] There is Patent Document 1 for "banju" and Patent Document 2 for "sheets." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-187620 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-131285 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in recent years, sweets and bread for convenience stores and other such products have been mass-produced in food factories, and food containers have been used to transport these products.However, there has been a problem in that the process of laying the sheets inside the food containers takes time, and sometimes the process cannot keep up with food production.

[0010] This invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a sheet-hanging tool that can easily and reliably lay a single sheet that is not bag-shaped inside a food transport container such as a food box, and hang it over the edge of the opening. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention provides a food transport container having a box-shaped insert portion for pushing a flexible resin sheet into an inner space from above so as to cover the opening edge of the box-shaped food transport container that opens upward and the bottom and inner peripheral surfaces of the inner space, a hinge portion, and a grip portion, the insert portion being composed of a pair of divided insert portions that are box-shaped and have the same shape and open upward, the hinge portion being configured to connect the upper edges of the opposing side walls, which are the opening edges of a pair of adjacent opposing side walls, so that they can swing relatively within a certain range when the divided insert portions are lined up, and the grip portion being configured to connect the upper edges of the opposing side walls, which are the opening edges of the adjacent pair of opposing side walls, so that the hinge portion can swing relatively within a certain range. The above problem is solved by a sheet hanging jig for a food transport container, characterized in that the insertion portion can be lifted and pushed down relative to the food transport container through a hinge portion, and when the divided insertion portion is placed on a horizontal surface, the adjacent opposing side walls are parallel with a gap between them, and when the divided insertion portion is lifted upward relatively, the lower edges of the opposing side walls come into contact and the outer surfaces of the opposing side walls form a V-shape intersecting at the lower edges of the opposing side walls, so that the upper ends of the opposing side walls are connected by the hinge portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the sheet hanging tool for food transport containers of the present invention, a flexible resin sheet is hung over the opening edge of the food transport container so that it covers the opening edge, and then the flexible resin sheet is pressed down vertically from above, thereby enabling the flexible resin sheet to cover the bottom surface, inner surface and opening edge of the interior space of the food transport container in a single action. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before a flexible resin sheet is pushed into a food transport container by a sheet application jig according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 showing the sheet application jig and the food transport container shown in FIG. 1; [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the state after the flexible resin sheet has been applied to the inside of the food transport container and the upper edge of the opening using the sheet application jig. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the completed state with the flexible resin sheet removed. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an outer groove portion is provided as an example of a degassing portion on the side wall of the divided insertion portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the sheet hanging jig of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the sheet application jig 10 for a food transport container 1 in Example 1 of the present invention is configured to have a box-shaped insertion portion 20 for pushing a flexible resin sheet 5 from above into the inner space 3 so as to cover the opening edge portion 4 of the box-shaped food transport container 1 that opens upward and the bottom surface 3A and inner surface 3B of the inner space 3, a hinge portion 30, and a gripping portion 40.

[0015] The insertion section 20 consists of a pair of identically shaped, box-shaped split insertion sections 21A, 21B that open upward, and the hinge section 30 is configured to connect the upper edges 23A, 23B (see Figure 3) of the opposing side walls 22A, 22B, which are the upper edges of a pair of adjacent side walls, so that they can swing freely relative to each other within a certain range when the split insertion sections 21A, 21B are lined up.

[0016] The gripping portion 40 is configured to be able to lift the hinge portion 30 and the insertion portion 20 and move, push in, or pull out the same.

[0017] The hinge portion 30 connects the upper ends of the opposing side walls 22A, 22B so that when the divided insertion portions 21A, 21B are placed on a horizontal plane, the opposing side walls 22A, 22B are parallel to each other with a gap between them, and when the divided insertion portions 21A, 21B are lifted upward, the lower edges 24A, 24B (see Figure 2) of the opposing side walls 22A, 22B come into contact, and the opposing side walls 22A, 22B form a V shape.

[0018] The divided insertion portions 21A, 21B are made basket-shaped as a deaeration means for escaping air between them and the flexible resin sheet 5 when they are inserted into the inner space 3, and when the divided insertion portions 21A, 21B are pushed down, air can escape through the holes in the basket mesh portions 36A, 36B to the divided inner spaces 28A, 28B of the divided insertion portions 21A, 21B.

[0019] As the deaeration means, in addition to the basket mesh portion, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, outer grooves 37A, 37B may be formed on the side walls and bottom surfaces of the divided insertion portions 21A, 21B.

[0020] Furthermore, the opposing side walls 22A, 22B below the hinge portion 30 may be formed as flat opposing side walls 27A, 27B without providing the degassing portion 35, as in Example 2 shown in Figure 6, and the basket mesh portions 36A, 36B or the outer groove portions 37A, 37B may be provided only in other portions.

[0021] When the hinge portion 30 is lifted or pressed down, a strong force is applied to the opposing side walls 22A, 22B, but durability can be increased by forming the opposing side walls 27A, 27B into flat plates.

[0022] 1 and 2, the sheet hanging jig 10 according to this embodiment 1 is configured such that the divided insertion portions 21A, 21B, particularly as shown in Fig. 2, have arc-shaped lower corners 26A, 26B, which are corners of the bottom surface and side wall away from the hinge portion 30, that are easily slidable against the flexible resin sheet 5. It is advisable to apply a resin or coating to the lower corners 26A, 26B that reduces the coefficient of friction, particularly with the flexible resin sheet.

[0023] Next, we will explain the process of using the sheet hanging jig 10 of Example 1 to push the flexible resin sheet 5 downward through the opening 2 of the food transport container 1 so that it covers the bottom surface 3A, inner surface 3B, and opening edge 4 of the inner space 3.

[0024] In addition, lifting and pushing in the sheet-hanging jig 10 is not limited to being done by hand, but can also be done by a robot or a dedicated machine, and includes cases where the food transport container 1 and / or the sheet-hanging jig 10 are fixed and the food transport container 1 is moved up and down by a dedicated machine.

[0025] First, as shown in FIG. 1, flexible resin sheet 5 is placed over opening 2, including opening edge 4, of food transport container 1.

[0026] Next, the sheet hanging jig 10 is lifted by the gripping portion 40 with the hands, so that the bottom edges 24A, 24B of the opposing side walls 22A, 22B of the divided insertion portions 21A, 21B are in contact with each other. In this state, the opposing side walls 22A, 22B have a V-shape when viewed from the side.

[0027] Next, divided insertion sections 21A, 21B are positioned directly above opening 2 of food transport container 1 and then lowered. During this process, as shown in FIG. 2, lower corners 26A, 26B of outer side walls 25A, 25B of divided insertion sections 21A, 21B press down on flexible resin sheet 5.

[0028] At this time, the lower corners 26A, 26B are made of a material or coated with a material that reduces the coefficient of friction with the flexible resin sheet 5, and the lower corners 26A, 26B are arc-shaped, so that the flexible resin sheet 5 is pressed down toward the bottom surface 3A of the food transport container 1 as the sheet hanging jig 10 is lowered without being damaged by strong friction on the flexible resin sheet 5.

[0029] If the sheet hanging jig 10 is pushed down in this state, the bottom surfaces of the two divided insertion sections 21A and 21B will come into contact with the bottom surface 3A of the food transport container 1 from above via the flexible resin sheet 5, as shown in Figure 3.

[0030] During this process, when grip portion 40 is pressed down, lower corners 26A, 26B of divided insertion portions 21A, 21B spread out flexible resin sheet 5 while maintaining the state shown in Figure 2. When lower corners 26A, 26B come into contact with bottom surface 3A of food transport container 1 via flexible resin sheet 5, lower corners 26A, 26B spread outward in Figure 2, and lower edges 24A, 24B of opposing side walls 22A, 22B gradually move apart. In other words, when grip portion 40 is pressed down, the downward force is converted into a force that spreads lower corners 26A, 26B outward, and flexible resin sheet 5 is reliably pressed down within inner space 3 and spread outward in Figure 2.

[0031] The final state is as shown in Fig. 3. At this time, the side walls other than opposing side walls 22A, 22B of divided insertion portions 21A, 21B and the bottom surface come into contact with flexible resin sheet 5, and air therebetween is pushed out through the holes in basket mesh portions 36A, 36B into divided inner spaces 28A, 28B of divided insertion portions 21A, 21B, so no air pockets are formed between divided insertion portions 21A, 21B and the pressed-down flexible resin sheet 5.

[0032] As in Example 2 of Figure 6, among the side walls of the divided insertion sections 21A and 21B in Example 1, the opposing side walls 22A and 22B may be flat opposing side walls 27A and 27B, and degassing sections 35 may be provided on the side walls other than the opposing side walls 22A and 22B and on the bottom surface of the insertion section.

[0033] This increases the rigidity against the downward force transmitted via the gripping portion 40, improving durability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Food transport container 2…Aperture 3...Inner space 3A…Bottom surface 3B…Inner peripheral surface 4...Opening edge 5...Flexible resin sheet 10...Sheet hanging jig 20...insertion section 21A, 21B...Split insertion section 22A, 22B…Opposite side wall 23A, 23B...Upper edges of opposing side walls 24A, 24B…Bottom edge of opposite side wall 25A, 25B…Outer side wall 26A, 26B…Lower corner 27A, 27B...Flat-shaped opposing side wall 28A, 28B…Divided inner space 30...Hinge part 31...Fixed bar 32A, 32B...hinge 33A, 33B...hinge pin 34A, 34B...hinge blades 35…Degassing section 36A, 36B…Mesh section 37A, 37B…Outer groove section 40…Gripping section

Claims

1. The container has a box-shaped insertion portion for pushing a flexible resin sheet into the inner space from above so as to cover the opening edge of the box-shaped food transport container that is open upward and the bottom surface and inner peripheral surface of the inner space, a hinge portion, and a grip portion; The insertion portion is a pair of divided insertion portions each having an upwardly opening box shape and the same shape, The hinge portion is configured to connect upper edges of the opposing side walls, which are opening edges of a pair of adjacent opposing side walls, so as to be relatively swingable within a certain range when the divided insertion portions are arranged side by side, The gripping portion can lift and push down the insertion portion relative to the food transport container via the hinge portion, A sheet hanging jig for a food transport container, characterized in that when the divided insertion portion is placed on a horizontal surface, the adjacent opposing side walls are parallel to each other with a gap between them, and when the divided insertion portion is lifted upward relatively, the lower edges of the opposing side walls come into contact, forming a V-shape with the outer surfaces of the opposing side walls intersecting at the lower edges of the opposing side walls.

2. In claim 1, A sheet hanging jig for a food transport container, characterized in that the divided insertion portion is equipped with a deaeration means for releasing air between the flexible resin sheet and the divided insertion portion when the flexible resin sheet is inserted into the inner space, and the deaeration means is a hole in the basket mesh portion when the bottom surface and side wall of the insertion portion are basket-shaped, or an outer groove portion provided on the bottom surface and outer surface of the side wall of the insertion portion.

3. In claim 2, A sheet hanging jig for a food transport container, characterized in that of the side walls of the divided insertion section, the opposing side walls are constructed in the form of a single plate, and the deaeration means is provided on the side walls other than the opposing side walls and on the bottom surface of the insertion section.

4. In any one of claims 1 to 3, A sheet hanging jig for a food transport container, characterized in that the lower corner of the outer side wall spaced apart from the opposing side wall in the split insertion section is arc-shaped, and at least its surface is made of a material that can slide against the flexible resin sheet.

5. In any one of claims 1 to 3, the hinge portion is configured to include a plate-shaped fixing bar that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane when the divided insertion portion is placed on the horizontal plane and is provided in the lower plane along the upper edges of the opposing side walls, and a pair of hinges that are respectively arranged between both side surfaces in the thickness direction of the lower edge of the fixing bar and the upper edges of the opposing side walls, A sheet hanging jig for a food transport container, characterized in that a pair of hinge pins in the pair of hinges are arranged at both corners of the thickness direction of the fixed bar at the lower end of the fixed bar, and a gap is formed between the opposing side walls by the length of the hinge blades in the pair of hinges and the distance between the pair of hinge pins.

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